KARGIL, MARCH 11, 2021: On the major transfer exercise of the General Line Teachers that took place after eleven years, the teachers’ organisations and forums welcomed the move while some alleged “injustice”. To dig more into the major exercise that has transferred 1049 General Line Teachers, Voice of Ladakh correspondent spoke to different stakeholders in this move.

At the very outset of the Transfer notice, a teacher announced his willingness to return his award in protest against the “favoritism” in Transfer policy. The teacher told Voice of Ladakh that, the CEO has assured him to resolve the issue, as the CEO is out of station nowadays. If the issue is not resolved in time, he vowed to get back to the media and the issue will escalate.

In his Facebook post the teacher had announced, “To post a lady teacher with a 4-month-old baby to 85kms away in an area where there is no network, no transportation due to political pressure and favoritism shows why our education system is lying behind”.

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“I wish to return all my awards and certificates in retaliation to this act by some illiterate goons of education department”, he announced in the text accompanied by a Certificate of Appreciation issued to him by the District Administration on Republic Day 2020. Like the above-mentioned teacher, there are more or less a hundred cases in the recent transfer exercise where the stakeholders allege injustice and thus grievances.

President of the General Line Teachers – Forum, Mustafa Kamal said that as far as the transfer policy is concerned the teachers were expecting and aspiring for this transfer for the last 3-4 years. Current CEC Feroz Khan in 2019 decided to bring this policy after brainstorming. Accordingly, Zonal Level Committees were also consulted in this case. Finally, the recent transfer policy is the result of all those efforts.

In this transfer policy, around 85 percent of the teachers have pulled back to their respective nearest places. In such a huge exercise, grievances and loopholes were expected. It is also true that injustice has also done to some people. To resolve these cases, we are in consultation with the CEC and other authorities. We have classified the cases of injustice and have taken them to the authorities who have assured to resolve them soon, said Mustafa.

“Around hundred cases of grievance have received to us that the authorities have assured to address soon. There is a need to address these cases until then this exercise cannot be called a justified move”, Mustafa added.

President of the Teacher Welfare Association, Ghulam Qadir Zaki while pinpointing some grievances, welcomed the exercise that has took place after 11 years. He considered it unfortunate that the teachers’ organisations and bodies are not taken into confidence in this transfer. Second, some senior teachers who had only a few months left for retirement have also included and transferred in this turn. Third, some senior teachers who have already served in far-flung areas like Zanskar have posted in another far place, Sapi.

“As the CEC and Chief Education Officer (CEO) both are out of the station, we could not take this issue properly. We have taken the issue with Acting CEC Aga Syed Hassan Armaan who has assured to resolve the issue soon”, said Zaki.

“In my opinion, no technically known person was consulted in the framing of this transfer policy. Otherwise, earlier the three previous places of transfer used to be considered before taking the new transfer decision.”

“We want the education department and administration to frame a proper policy for transfer of teachers for a period of two years each at one place. We want justice with the teachers that have somehow faced injustice in the current transfer.”

President of the Teachers’ Forum Sankoo Zone, Ali Mohammad Tabassum said that 60 percent of the transfer cases are fine in the current move, whereas there are cases of injustice also with some teachers.

Those, who have already served in far-flung areas have again transferred to far places. While some teachers have kept in their previous places. There is no vacancy for Arabic teachers in Bartoo, Garkone, and Karchay Khar but Arabic teachers have posted there, complained Tabassum.

“The recent transfer exercise does not seem a well-thought plan for good of the mass but a plan made for the convenience of some chosen people.”

“Being the president of the teachers’ body, I have received many cases and grievances that we have bought in the notice of the Education Department.”

Acting CEC LAHDC Kargil Aga Syed Hassan Armaan in a telephonic conversation with Voice of Ladakh correspondent considered that injustice has been done to some people. The acting CEC has received many cases of injustice and unfair transfer that Aga Armaan has assured to resolve soon after the return of CEC and CEO.