THATHRI/JAMMU: Education Zone Thathri, District Doda which has regularly remained in news for corruption related activities since the beginning of 2018 has defamed the education department and is putting negative impact on education of children and the reputation of teachers. According to a statement issued to JK Monitor, teachers of the zone are facing humiliation and dishonor in the society due to regular news of corruption on social and print media.
The statement added that first a video went viral in social media in which a laborer is claiming the bribery of rupees 20,000 for his engagement as cook and CPW by the ZEO. An Inquiry Committee was constituted by the CEO Doda but report was not made public till date for the reasons unknown. The statement further claimed that to silence the public out cry, Drawing and Disbursing Power was ordered to be shared between Principal HSS Jangalwar and Headmaster Boys High School Thathri who is also in charge ZEO Thathri.
Adding to it, another news went viral on social and print media in which it surfaced that one clerk namely Chur Chand Sharma has either destroyed or misplaced Service Book of one teacher namely Ramesh Kumar despite taking Rs 44000 from him as bribe. The clerk is also involved in tempering and overwriting the service records of the teachers after taking bribe.
Though an Inquiry Committee was constituted to prob the matter but that report has been delayed deliberately. It has also surfaced that despite funds available, ZEO Thathri has failed to prove free uniform to the government school children till the end of the session. According to statement, General Secretary of J&KRETTF Rashpal Singh lambasted the administration for giving free hand to corruption in education department in zone Thathri.
He castigated the administration for not probing the allegations in depth to bring out the truth before the society as well as teachers. Another Teacher Irfan Ahmed told that the successive scams in education department is very shameful and it has brought humiliation to the teachers in the society.
Teacher Manjeet Singh told that the hushing up of the Inquiry reports regarding the clerk Chur Chand Sharma and ZEO Thathri shows that the higher authorities are shielding the culprits and promoting the corruption in the department. He added that the higher authorities have become mute spectators and have given free hands to corruption in education department.
Zakir Butt senior leader of the J&KRETTF who is known for raising voice against corruption and mismanagement in the entire District Doda was astonished over the silence of the higher authorities regarding the continuous news of corruption and mismanagement in the education zone Thathri. Zonal President JKRETTF Thathri Naseer Ahmed Batt said that the corruption in education Zone Thathri is a big menace and needs an end at the earliest. He sought intervention of Governor administration to save the reputation of education department, teachers beside career of poor students from the corrupt officials.