Castigating severely the state government over its lackadaisical approach in mitigation of the burning issue of pending SSA salaries, the Jammu and Kashmir Rehbar-e-Taleem Teachers Forum (JKReTTF) has threatened to launch a state vide protest next month.According to a statement issued to KNS, JK ReTTF Chairman Farooq Ahmad Tantray lambasted the government for failing to release the salaries of thousands of Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).Tantray said that it has been over four months now that SSA teachers remain without salaries and their families are passing through traumatic conditions due to financial constraints.He said thousands of teachers under SSA working in difficult conditions braving all odds are reeling under agonizing conditions and the people at the helm of affairs have shut their eyes over the plight of these Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers. The irresponsible decision makers live in cozy offices and nation builders are left to suffer and their families are on the verge of starvation. It is proving a herculean task for teachers to meet both ends.
Tantray said that JK ReTTF the representative organization of sixty five thousand Rehbar-e-Taleem teachers has set May 10 as the deadline for the state government for addressing this grave issue. If the government failed to release the pending pay dues of SSA teachers within the stipulated time the forum will be compelled to launch a massive protest programme simultaneously at winter and summer capitals of the state. All the district and zonal units have been directed to mobilize the grassroot members for the protest programme and the JK ReTTF leadership will not hesitate to offer any sacrifice for the redressal of salary woes.Earlier, a provincial level General Council session was convened in city center where all the Executive members including all the district presidents participated. Addressing the session Chairman Tantray threw light on the challenges that ReT teaching community is confronted with and gave a detailed overview of the measures that are being taken to safeguard ReT interests and rights.
Tantray lauded State's Education Minister for ordering the regularization of distance mode degree holders and hailed the innovative initiatives of Director School Education Kashmir.The speakers in the session discussed in detail over agenda of the meeting and held deliberations on pros and con of RReT transfer policy, pending time bond files, master grade promotions, membership drive, KGBV regularization and financial positioning of the forum.The speakers who addressed the session included Vice Chairman Syed Manzoor, Chief Spokesman Bhat Iqbal, State Secretary Zahoor uddin Baigh, Pub Sec Assadulla Wani, Finance Sec Yaseen Shah, Chief Organiser Mateen Parray, Apex Portfolio holders Irshad Rahi, Malik Bilal, Talib Hussain, Javid Gul, Ali Adnan, Muntazir Maneer, district Presidents - Mohammad Yaqoob, Khalid Rafeeq, Sheikh Parvez, Farooq Ahmad Itoo, Intikhab Alam, Sofi Gul, Parray Bashir, Mukhtar Qadri and Javid Ahmad.Syed Imtiaz from Sogam was elevated to Apex and assigned with the portfolio of Media Advisor. Salamatulla from Shopian will be the new deputy finance Sec. (KNS)