K Koushal
July, 07
Notwithstanding the fact that education system in Jammu and Kashmir is facing unprecedented challenges and often portrays ‘sorry-state’ picture, those at the helm of affairs in government continues to patronize some influential teachers with cakewalk and plum posting.
According to sources in the education department, the administration had deputed large number of teachers in different departments, having an extra source of income.
“Former Minister of FCS&CA had managed deputation of some favorites in his department,” said sources, adding that then Director School Education without considering the importance of having substantial teacher-pupil ratio in schools, deputed at least dozen teachers in the department.
Sources alleged that most of the teachers belong to a particular region, probably the constituency of the minister and the deputation orders were made in lieu of share in the extra income.
“It is quite understandable that teachers can be required and deputed for election duty, but why teachers were deputed in FCS&CA department, when their prime responsibility is to impart education. The FCS&CA department is very unpopular for hoarding and black marketing,” said sources, adding that the then FCS&CA minister, eyeing on his constituency besides bounty, pushed administration to depute teachers in his department.
However, the important thing to note here is that the last popular government in Jammu and Kashmir collapsed in June 2018 and since then no administration took pains to repatriate these teachers, who have been deputed with FCS&CA.
“Ignoring all the norms and overstaying their stipulated period of deputation, teachers from the Rajouri, Poonch and other such districts continue to be on deputation in the FCS&CA department and other insignificant but ‘milking’ department for as long as the last couple of years,” said sources, adding that now the government, instead of repatriating these teachers have initiated inquiry against them regarding financial losses, maintenance of records and shortage of food, besides the academic credentials of these teachers, during their stay in the FCS&CA.
It vindicates that the bureaucracy and administration works as puppet of politicians and do not take any decision with rational mind.
“One can conclude from the fact that on the pressure of politician, the administration deputed large number of teachers in unfamiliar departments, without questioning the rationale behind it,” said a teacher, wishing anonymity, adding that most of the teachers on deputation were either from the constituency of the Minister or had paid for these postings, because FCS&CA and allied departments are a cakewalk with bundles of monetary benefits.
Director School Education, Anuradha Gupta says not a good practice…
“We have already initiated process of repatriating them back. Orders have been issued and many teachers have been called back, but still many of them are attached in different department,” said Anuradha Gupta, adding that such practice should not happen and are not good for the overall betterment of the education system.
She asserted “From last one year, school education department is working on it and trying to discourage this practice. We try to ensure that teachers should not be deputed or attached to any other department.”
Director FCS&CA Jatinder Singh says some teachers have been relieved…
“We have already relieved some teachers from CAPD department, but few are still in the department,” said Singh, adding that he has no knowledge about the inquiry initiated against any employee.
