Jungle Raj prevailing in Education Deptt: Harsh Dev
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Jammu, 07-07-2021: With large scale transfers, attachments, and modifications of teaching staff being made in the Education Deptt in violation of all norms and prescribed procedures, the education sector has reached on the verge of breakdown in J&K. Not only has the much-trumpeted transfer policy been blown into smithereens in the matter of transfers but the majority of the rural, remote area schools have been literally rendered staff-less and consequently defunct.
An all-pervasive culture of nepotism, favoritism, and corruption has engulfed this significant deptt as well resulting in unrest amongst the teaching community as well as the general masses, particularly in far-flung areas. Not only the irregular transfers and postings have antagonized the affected sections but large-scale attachments of teachers and even RETs in brazen defiance of stipulated norms have sparked massive outrage against the reckless officers who seen to be on a transfer spree.” This was stated by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh, former Education Minister, and Chairman-JKNPP while interacting with people of Chenani constituency during the inauguration of the new Party Office in Chenani town today.
Strange are the ways of the present govt, said Singh, while referring to the posting of IFS Officer B.K Singh as the Administration Secretary of Education Deptt. An officer who has hardly any concept of the education sector, about the state or central schemes pertaining to education and has all along remained in Forest Deptt has been most astonishingly made the administrative head of the Education Deptt. And the result is obvious. The gradual deterioration in this crucial sector is being clearly noticed. And its therefore rightly being remarked that Jungle Raj is now prevailing in Education Deptt”, rued Mr. Singh.
“No new schools are being opened. None being upgraded despite public outcries in the far-off areas where people have to tread long distances to pursue high and higher secondary level education. Besides, the Model schools, Girls Hostels, and other central schemes for poor and underprivileged children have failed to take off. Only recently the CAG report has indicted the Education Deptt for culpable negligence in utilizing RMSA funds and sought fixation of responsibility for lapse of Rs. 44.13 crore meant for students welfare schemes”, claimed the former Education Minister.
Not only had the Model School scheme collapsed in J&K, but the RMSA, SMAGRA, RUSA, and other centrally sponsored schools in the Education sector too had proved a flop show. The condition of schools at the Elementary, Middle, High, and Higher Secondary levels was pathetic with the majority of schools suffering from infrastructure-related problems and acute staff deficiency. The RMSA subject-specific teachers appointed for the High Schools had been denied salary for the last 2 years thereby compounding the issues in the already problematic Deptt. The large-scale attachments of teachers in cities and towns had rendered several rural area schools non-functional with none to listen to the public outcries.
Regretting further the dilapidated condition of school buildings in rural areas, Mr. Singh said that no repairs, renovation, or even white-washing of schools had been undertaken despite huge funds shown to have been spent for the purpose during the last few years. Seeking a high-level probe into the malfunctioning of the Education sector as corroborated even by the report of CAG besides large-scale irregular transfers, Mr. Singh called for strict punitive action against the delinquent officers of the Deptt at the earliest.
