Srinagar, Jun 19: Teachers and masters posted in hard and very hard zone areas of Kupwara district on Thursday complained that they continue to remain “stuck” in far off areas despite completing their tenure.
The teachers urged the J&K School Education Department (SED) to implement the provisions of the Transfer Policy 2023 and alleged that many of them continue to serve in difficult areas despite completing their mandatory tenure. The aggrieved teachers said they completed the prescribed one-year tenure in hard-zone areas under challenging conditions but their transfer to feasible soft-zone areas was not yet considered.
The teachers said the School Education Department’s Transfer Policy, notified vide Government Order No. 103-JK(Edu) of 2023 dated April 24, 2023, states that the employees posted in Zone-V areas are ordinarily required to serve for one year, while those serving in such difficult locations are to be given preference for postings in Zone-I and Zone-II areas to the extent possible. The teachers however alleged that despite repeatedly approaching officers and authorities in the department, their grievances remain unresolved. “We have moved from pillar to post requesting implementation of the policy provisions, but our concerns continue to remain unheard,” the teachers said.
The teachers said prolonged uncertainty over transfers has caused mental stress and disappointment among staff serving in remote and inaccessible areas.
Under the transfer policy, Zone-IV and Zone-V areas have been categorized as difficult postings with prescribed tenures of two years and one year respectively. The policy further states that employees who have served in Zone-V should preferably be accommodated in softer zones after completion of their tenure.
The aggrieved teachers appealed to the authorities to ensure that the transfer policy is implemented “in letter and spirit” and that eligible employees are transferred from hard zones without further delay. The teachers said the timely implementation of the policy would address employee grievances and also strengthen confidence in the department’s transfer mechanism. Minister for education, Sakina Itoo earlier told Greater Kashmir that the department was aware about the issue and all the teachers, who have completed their tenure in Zone-V will be shifted to normal zones. “The department will address the grievance of the teaching fraternity,” she said.
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