Waris Fayaz
Srinagar, June 23: Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo on Monday reaffirmed the government’s resolve to uphold fairness in the implementation of the reservation policy, while also highlighting key reforms in the education sector.
Speaking to reporters during a visit to Tangmarg, Itoo defended the formation of the subcommittee on reservations, clarifying that it was established for the public’s benefit and not due to political pressure or social media campaigns. “This committee was not a reaction to a tweet or any public outcry—it was set up with a clear six-month mandate by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to serve the people,” she said, indirectly responding to opposition criticism.
She added that the committee had submitted its report ahead of schedule, which has now been sent to the law department for legal scrutiny. “The Chief Minister is personally invested in this issue. We are approaching it with complete seriousness,” she stressed.
On the education front, the Minister announced that the government has initiated long-awaited rationalisation of school staff. She said teachers currently posted in overcrowded schools will be transferred to under-served and remote areas, and those who haven’t worked in such regions before will now be required to serve there. “This will be made mandatory,” Itoo stated.
She criticised previous governments for failing to implement an effective transfer and promotion system for educators. “Promotions were delayed for years and there was no structured transfer policy. We’ve changed that now. I appreciate the hard work of officers who helped make this happen,” she said.
Addressing staffing issues, she acknowledged that several officials in the Education Department were handling additional responsibilities due to vacancies. However, she noted that most of these positions—such as those of CEOs, ZEOs, and headmasters—have now been filled, and the remaining vacancies will be resolved soon.
“We inherited a system with widespread vacancies, but we’ve made significant progress and are committed to completing the process,” she assured.
With inputs from the KNO
