Srinagar, August 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum (JKRETTF) has welcomed the assurance given by Education Minister Sakina Itoo during a conference at SKICC, Srinagar, regarding the issuance of a dedicated transfer policy for teachers appointed under the Rehbar-e-Taleem (RET) scheme within the next few days.
In a statement, JKRETTF Chief Spokesperson Muzafar Ahmad Wani said the announcement was a welcome development for thousands of RET teachers who have been awaiting a dedicated transfer policy for nearly two decades.
Forum Chairman Farooq Ahmad Tantray and Senior Vice Chairperson Neenu Lata also welcomed the Minister’s assurance and expressed hope that the announcement would soon be translated into a formal policy.
The Forum said RET teachers had received several assurances regarding a transfer policy in the past, but the matter remained unresolved. The teachers had also hoped to be included in the recently issued transfer policy for General Line teachers, but their expectations were not met.
“We are hopeful that this time the announcement made by the Hon’ble Education Minister will be followed by concrete action and a formal transfer policy for RET teachers will be issued without further delay,” Tantray said.
He maintained that a transparent and comprehensive transfer policy would provide much-needed relief to RET teachers, particularly female teachers who have been serving at the same places of posting for several years.
The Forum further noted that the latest assurance came shortly after it announced plans to hold a peaceful sit-in demonstration in Srinagar if its long-pending demands, particularly the transfer policy and implementation of Government Order No. 115-Edu of 2015, were not addressed.
According to the Forum, the implementation of Government Order No. 115-Edu of 2015 is linked to pensionary and other retirement benefits for RET teachers. It said RET teachers appointed before 2010 would particularly benefit from the implementation of the order, subject to its applicable provisions, including eligibility for coverage under the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The Forum said it has been pursuing these issues for a considerable period and that the matter has also been subject to judicial directions.
The JKRETTF expressed hope that the government would act on the Minister’s assurance and take necessary steps to resolve both long-pending issues in the larger interest of RET teachers. The Forum also urged the authorities to ensure that the promised transfer policy is issued at the earliest.
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