Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo on Monday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring fair implementation of the reservation policy and introducing wide-ranging reforms in the education sector.
Talking to reporters during her visit to Tangmarg, Itoo strongly defended the formation of the subcommittee on reservations, stating that it was constituted with serious intent and not in response to any social media trend or political pressure. “The reservation policy is for the people, and that’s why the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah formed a subcommittee with a six-month mandate. It’s not like someone tweeted and it was formed, absolutely not”, Itoo said, indirectly referring to criticism from the opposition.
She said that the committee submitted its report a day before the deadline, which has now been forwarded to the law department for legal vetting. “The Chief Minister himself is deeply concerned about this issue. We are very much serious about it”, she added.
Addressing questions on education in the region, the Minister said that the government had initiated a long-pending rationalisation of staff in schools. “Teachers posted in overcrowded schools will be shifted to remote areas, and those who haven’t served in such areas will now have to serve there for a few years. It will be mandatory”, she asserted.
She pointed out that previous administrations had failed to implement a fair transfer and promotion policy for teachers. “Promotions were stalled for years and a transfer policy was missing altogether. We face changed that. I congratulate the officers who have worked diligently on this,” Itoo said.
The Minister also acknowledged the issue of additional charges being held by officers due to a shortage of staff in the Education Department. However, she stressed that wherever possible, duties have been duly assigned.
“Earlier, posts of CEOs, ZEOs, and headmasters remained vacant to a large extent before local government took charge. We have managed to fill most of them, and the remaining few will be addressed at the earliest”, she assured—(KNO)
