Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 7: State Cabinet, which is meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah tomorrow at 9.30 am at Civil Secretariat, Srinagar, is likely to extend period of validity for filling up of regular vacancies of teachers in socially and educationally backward areas and in areas near the Line of Actual Control on the pattern of Rehbar-e-Taleem. The Cabinet may also order reshuffle in the Police Department at the level of SSPs and SPs if the consensus emerges among the Ministers.
The reshuffle in the Police Department was put on hold in the last Cabinet meeting held at winter capital on April 24 due to lack of consensus on the proposal mooted by the Home Department. In view of some changes suggested by the Ministers it was unanimously decided to shelve the reshuffle.
“If the consensus continues to elude over large scale reshuffle at least attempt would be made to fill up the posts of Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) of four districts—Jammu, Udhampur, Kishtwar and Baramulla, which have been lying vacant for the past quite long time”, official sources told EXCELSIOR.
Sources further said that in order to make up the deficiency of staff in primary and middle schools, Rehbar-e-Taleem scheme was launched in the State in year 2000. The objective behind launching the scheme was to promote the decentralized management of elementary education with the community participation and involvement, to ensure accountability and responsiveness through a strong backup and supervision through the community and to operationalize effectively the schooling system at the grass root level.
In the year 2003, the process of filling up of regular vacancies was made applicable only to the Primary Schools being opened/upgraded under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. Due to this, the elementary level schools other than upgraded under SSA again become understaffed in far-flung areas because the teachers hailing from urban/plain areas selected through Service Selection Board started avoiding such areas on one pretext or the other.
“Acute shortage of teaching staff in the schools located in the difficult and far-flung areas led to criticism of the Government particularly from the MLAs representing the rural constituencies and also the general public started demanding engagement of Rehbar-e-Taleem against regular vacancies of teachers at elementary level to ensure availability of staff in the difficult areas”, sources said.
Accordingly, Government issued order No. 635-Edu of 2010 dated August 4, 2010 whereunder sanction was accorded to the filling of regular vacancies of teachers in socially and educational backward on the pattern of ReT for a period of two years, sources said, adding vide letter dated May 24, 2012 the Education Department issued instructions where under it was mentioned that only the prospective vacancy of teachers acquired due to death, promotion or retirement and fresh vacancy, if any created by the department, are required to be filled up in terms of the Government Order No.635-Edu of 2010.
“This led to litigations in the State High Court and the same were disposed of with directions to the State to continue with the selection process which was issued by adopting the pattern of ReT scheme in the socially and educationally backward areas”, sources said.
“Now a memorandum is being placed before the Cabinet seeking extension in the period of validity for filling up of regular vacancies of teachers in Socially and Educationally Backward areas and in areas near Line of Actual Control, identified under the J&K Reservation Rules on the pattern of ReT scheme for further period of two years beyond August 4, 2012”, sources said while disclosing that Education Department has obtained concurrence of the GAD and Law Department in this regard.
Sources said that Cabinet will also discuss the guidelines regarding protocol to be observed during the tour of various dignitaries within and outside the State. “Following Cabinet’s approval the guidelines will be reiterated for strict adherence by all the concerned”, they added.
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