“Colleges with no student of Dogri has surplus staff, whereas post of Dogri subject is lying vacant in Colleges with Dogri students. This appears an intentional ploy to reduce the relevance of Dogri in Jammu”
K Koushal
It would not be perhaps wrong to state that Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education department is mired with policy paralysis, as ‘irrational’ deputation of staff has hit the functioning of the colleges in many areas, besides harming the career perspectives of the teachers, but it appears that those at the helm of affairs appear least bothered about it.
According to sources, last year the department of Higher education ordered transfer of more than 38 Assistant Professors in different colleges.
“Higher Education department vide order No.110 JK (HE) of 2022, dated 02-05-2022 ordered rationalization of faculty members, wherein more than dozen teachers have been posted in colleges, without any student,” alleged sources, adding that in the past one year more than crore rupees have been paid to the teachers, but without any purpose.
Specifying it to the Dogri, sources said that Government Degree Colleges Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshera, Kotranka, Doda, Thatri, Banihal, Gool among others have no student of Dogri, whereas teachers are deputed there for the past one year, whereas MAM Science College, SPMR College, GDC Sidhra among others have students, but teaching posts for the Dogri are lying vacant.
“It appears that the authorities are deliberately trying to reduce the status and relevance of Dogri in Jammu by not rationalizing the transfer and deputation of teachers as per the need,” sources said and added that these officers of the higher education department must be asked who shall be accountable for this ‘irrational’ deputation.
Sources said that a representation in this regard has been submitted by the faculty members of nine colleges, with the concerned authorities.
“In a request to the concerned authorities, the faculty members have requested that their case must be placed before the Academic Audit Committee framed by Higher Education Department, Govt. of Jammu Kashmir,” reads the representation, adding “We were transferred vide Govt. order No. 110-JK(HE) dated 02-05-2022. Since our transfer to GDCs Doda, Banihal, Poonch, Thathri, Gool and Ukhral, we have not been able to take any classes due to non-availability of Dogri as a subject in the Colleges. Under the new admission for the session 2022-23 through NEP 2020 none of the students were willing to take Dogri as subject, despite many counselling sessions, because of non-familiarity of the students of the area with Devanagri script. Students in the region prefer Urdu, Kashmiri and English rather than Dogri in above mentioned GDCs, because they are well versed with the Persian and Roman Script and their mother Tongue being Urdu, Kashmiri, Gojari and Sarazi.”
They further assert, “Non availability of classes in the colleges is going to severely affect our APRs further affecting our career advancement.” A committee for rationalization has been made, which is headed by director colleges, but she is not active and the case is pending since last so many months.
When contacted, Director Higher Education, Dr Yasmeen Ashai said that she has no mandate for the transfer of gazetted faculty.
When asked about her role as a member of rationalization committee, she said that she was not part of the committee when the transfer order was made. “We are working on the rationalization of teacher-subject ratio,” she said.
Talking to The Typewriter, Principal Secretary to Government, Higher Education Department , Alok Kumar said that the process of rationalization is under progress. “We are working on it and in next transfer order you will not find this anomaly,” said Alok Kumar.
