Srinagar, Mar 19: Believe it or not, an order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir Government over three years back has not been implemented so far, making at least 1500 teachers, appointed years back under the much-hyped Rehbar-e-Taleem (ReT) scheme, suffer for want of wages and pension.
 Order No. 115-edu of 2008 Dated: 29-02-2008 is awaiting implementation in the wake of state government’s indecisiveness, something which the state administration itself acknowledges.
 “The period of five years, rendered by ReTs on honorarium basis, shall count as qualifying service exclusively for pension benefits if the said tenure is followed by regularization as general line teachers,” the order, a copy of which is with Greater Kashmir, reads. “This is issued with the agreement of the Finance Department conveyed vide UO, No 1/126(04)-441 dated 7.2.2008.”
 It is unclear as to why the order has not been implemented till now, despite severe criticism from the ReTs, who have been regularized and are falling under its ambit.
 In one of the letters to the Director School Education Kashmir (DSEK), the concerned administrative department has sought response as to why the order has not been implemented. “The Government order No 115-Edu of 2008 dated 29-02-2008 has remained un-implemented since 2008 for which disciplinary action is required to be taken against the delinquent officers/officials,” reads the administrative department letter No: Edu-11/115/2007 dated 26-10-2010.
 Three months after, the DSEK has written to the Commissioner/Secretary, Education, to issue instructions with regard to the order. The DSEK shot the letter after the regularized teachers made a written representation to the office about the issue.
 Linking the issue with the new pension scheme, albeit unnecessarily, the DSEK letter reads: “Since the new pension scheme under SRO 400 Dated: 24/12/2009 came into existence, necessary orders, instructions in the case may be conveyed at the earliest,” the letter no: Estt/III/99/18/3218, dated: 17.01.2011, reads.
 The clarification, according to the sources, is yet to come while the disciplinary proceedings are yet to be initiated against the erring officials, who allegedly sabotaged the implementation of the order for three years.
 “The order no 115 of 2008 makes us entitled to the Old Pension Scheme. There is no confusion about the issue,” said a group of teachers, who approached this office with the plea. “The ReTs confirmed after 31st December 2009 are without salaries since due to non-availability of the GP Fund numbers.”
 “How can the state government expect the teachers to work with dedication in absence of salaries, which is our right?” the aggrieved teachers said.
 When contacted, the DSEK, Shagufta Parveen said she has written to the state government to come clean on the issue. “I have forwarded the case to the government and asked it to resolve the issue. I understand that the teachers are without wages,” she told Greater Kashmir.
 But the state government seems to be unconcerned. Despite repeated attempts, the Commissioner/Secretary, School Education, didn’t respond to repeated calls from Greater Kashmir.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 19 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST