For many months you and I have been witnessing a tussle between the administration & ReTs (which is a household term now) supported by other teachers. First it was about salary, unpaid for several months ReTs came out on roads and it was only after a series of protests that the problem was eased. Another issue ReTs complain about is their transfer (actually no transfer). However, the main issue which brought the administration & ReTs at loggerheads is the SCREENING TEST which remains to be the bone of contention.
The ReTs first raised slogans against Nayeem Akhter & his government and now when there is no popular government in place it's Mr Shaleen Kabra, the Commissioner Secretary Education, J&K & Mr Shah Faesal, the Director Education Kashmir. Why Mr Shah Faesal? because he's the one who defends the decision of administration on electronic, print & social media.
ReTs claim to have been marginalized, victimized, discriminated & have developed a sense of alienation. They say they are victims of an unknown conspiracy. They say their image has been maligned, their credibility has been harmed & they have been subjected to mental trauma. How justified are their claims? Being a part part of this famous abbreviation (Ret), sharing the same fate it should be like - are our claims justified? To substantiate my claims let me talk about & explain the controversial, unjustifiable orders of the administration.
We all know the screening test row started in May 2015 after the infamous incident of 'Faisal Khan v state ' (Case No. SWP 346/2014) in the the Hon'ble High of J&K. What the court said - The Hon'ble High Court through Justice Muzaffar Hussain Attar directed the administration to identify all those ReTs/Teachers who might have been appointed on the basis of degrees obtained from tuck shops (it meant fraud institutions) and put them to a screening test to assess their teaching abilities.
What the administration did - The administration ordered the verification of degrees of all the ReTs (ReTs only, other categories of teachers were exempted). The discrimination began. The appointed committees, after a prolonged verification, submitted their reports. It came to light that no tuck shop degrees were found but the row didn't stop. Meanwhile, to add insult to injury the administration came up with order No. 622-Edu of 2015 Dated: 22/12/15 which explained the new transfer policy, ReTs were excluded. The discrimination continues. The criticism grew louder, more protests, more slogans against the administration.
On 29th of Dec, 2015 the administration came up with another controversial order (Order No. 631-Edu of 2015), here, i quote a few lines of the order:
" Sanction is hereby accorded to the introduction of screening test of the following:-
a. ReTs/RRTs who have obtained degrees from study centres/distance mode which have been reckoned at the time of engagement, and
b. Persons figuring in the selection panel for fresh engagements of ReTs. "
And the phrase 'distance mode' meant all distance mode degrees no matter how reputed the University is. The phrase 'Tuck Shops' disappeared. More protests, more slogans but the administration showed reluctance to rethink about it's decision. Following the process to complete the mission an order was issued to all CEOs of the division by the Directorate of School Education Kashmir (DSEK) on 23/01/2015 (NO. DSEK/SSA/Ret/info 303) asking for the list with relevant details of Rets which are covered under part a as well part b of the order No. 631 (as quoted above). Now let's scroll down the timeline and talk about those ReTs who became due for regularization in May 2015 & afterwards, the most unfortunate lot. Verification of their testimonials was ordered, completed but the regularization process was not resumed on the pretext of screening test.
Later, in a dramatic way, the regularization was resumed only for those holding regular mode degrees ( Class within the class was born) .
Another humiliating blow came to ReTs when they were deprived of the time-bound promotions even after serving for 14 years (5+9). A few days back, however, some of them were enlisted, some others dropped again for the reasons similar to the earlier ones. And the discrimination and humiliation continues.
ReTs are fighting for their prestige, survival. They are going through a mental trauma. Yes, that's true. Yesterday while on Facebook I became tearful upon reading the status update of an Ret friend namely Zahoor Ahmad which read, "I wish to die". Another ReT friend, Malick Zuhaan's post said "I need medicines for my family but I don't have a penny. Oh Allah release our salary." It was equally painful to read. Allah bless them both & all. It's not difficult to imagine their Plight.
Being a part of this unfortunate & hopeless community I wish all this ends before it takes an ugly turn. By our protests, it's hard to believe that we can be able to change the hearts which are void of feelings & full of ego. Being honest, I don't enjoy these protests, chanting slogans. Believe me it's very humiliating, difficult for me but I have to. I wish i need not come on roads. I wish I need not courts to tell the authorities that my distance mode degree is legal and at par with the regular mode degrees. I wish roads & courts become an unnecessary destination for us.
(The writer can be reached at darfirdaus@gmail.com)