Gurez, Oct 15: Several lecturers, masters and teachers deployed in Gurez Valley in north Kashmir’s Bandipora District have sought transfers, alleging that they continue to serve in the remote region despite completing their stipulated one-season tenure.
The staff members said repeated representations to the authorities had failed to elicit a response, leaving them concerned about their families and the prospect of spending another winter in the snowbound valley.
Speaking to Kashmir Convener, some of the aggrieved teachers said they were initially deployed in Gurez for one season but had continued to serve there without being relieved.
“Our department transfers us with promises to bring back but then they forget to transfer us back to our places. We are being punished because department has failed to implement the same orders on local employees who always refuse to perform duties in their native places,” they added.
“Winter is approaching. The valley will remain cut off for months, and we are the ones who will suffer,” a teacher said, requesting anonymity. “On one hand, we are expected to follow government guidelines, while on the other, we are under pressure because of our families.”
The staff members said the prolonged postings had created difficulties in managing family responsibilities, particularly as heavy snowfall often disrupts road connectivity to Gurez during winter.
They urged the administration to take up their transfer requests before the onset of severe winter conditions, warning that any further delay would aggravate their difficulties.
The teachers also expressed concern over the implications of prolonged uncertainty for the functioning of educational institutions in the remote valley, where access and connectivity become challenging during the winter months.
They appealed to the authorities to examine their representations and clarify the policy governing the duration of ATD postings in Gurez.
Comments are closed.