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Education in J&K

Sir,

This has reference to your news item 'Mr Shafi's speech on the eve of Teacher's Day (published in DE Sep 6). The Education Minister, Mr Mohammad Shafi has blamed the teaching community for the failure of our education system and poor results. But is that teaching community only responsible for such poor results and degradation of education? Is administration or its wrong policies and norms not responsible for that ? What infrastructure has been provided to Government schools, every one knows? Can you think of any other office, institution working in winter from 10 AM to 4 PM without toilets or during summer hours without drinking water, then how can these blooming buds control themselves when even elders cannot control themselves. Maximum of the Government schools are working without drinking water, toilets and sweepers. Has the administration ever thought, how the schools are being cleaned up ? He has compared Government school result with public schools, but has he ever thought why highly qualified teachers, some of them also have been selected from best public schools, are failing in Government schools ? That is only due to poor administration. No doubt, some Govt institutions are giving very good result but that depends upon the local administration of the school.

The falling standard of education is only due to the lack of administration's interest, wrong policies and norms and lack of proper infrastructure, and lack of transfer policy. Senior officers are beating the drum for failure of education system in J&K. Have they ever gone through its reasons except blaming the teachers? Have they ever checked, how many schools are being inspected by ZEOs and ZEPOs? In the field, during their inspections, has any body ever asked for their requirement or any other problem being faced in the field ? Public Schools give better results because head of the Institution is keenly interested and tries to provide necessary facilities required for the best teaching opportunity. Maximum of the Government school buildings look like ruins and back adequate infrastructure.

Unless a proper education policy is framed for Government Schools, there will be no improvement of any sort. Instead of giving benefits of HRA in the cities, it should be given to those teachers who have to cover long distances to reach their destinations and set proper and impartial norms for transfers.

Yours etc...
Saksham
Vijaypur,
Jammu.

Pay in Revised scale

Sir,

This refers to the letters on the woes of pensioners being published in Daily Excelsior almost every week. The most glaring disparity is non-implementation of G.O.I decision regarding Pension to be 50 percent of the minimum pay in the Revised scales introduced w.e.f 1.1.1996 irrespective of the date of retirement. In our times, letters to the Editor published in leading dailies were religiously dispatched by Director Information to concerned agencies and Govt used to take expeditious action. We do hope action will be taken on our representation also expeditiously at least before some natural or unnatural calamity overtakes us.

Chief Minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah may kindly recollect meeting of pensioners with him on April 8, 99 at Jammu in presence of Chief Secretary and Principal Secy. Finance in which he was gracious to concede that orders reg. Pension to be 50 percent of the minimum pay in revised scales as per analogy of G.O.I Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions order No. F-45/10/98-P&PW (A) dated 17.12.98 shall be issued at the earliest.

The issue, which has not been resolved since last two years, was subsequently followed by pensioners in meetings with all those who matter including Principal Secretary Finance Deptt. Chief Secretary & Finance Minister on April 15, 99, April 26, 99 and June 8, 2000 respectively. A number of representations were also submitted to concerned officers from time to time to issue orders.

We are sorry to point out that pensioners who have served the Govt during prime of their life, are feeling neglected and fraustrated for this shabby treatment to their genuine cause. Will the CM like that these 'Oldies' should run after courts for directions to Govt to issue orders?

May we request again that Govt orders on the analogy of GOI orders to the effect that ''pension of all pensioners, irrespective of their retirement, shall not be less than 50 percent of the minimum pay in the revised scales of pay'', may please be issued now.

Yours etc...
Atta Mohammad
14, Sector 4,
Trikuta Nagar,
Jammu.

Duty Idea in Work Culture

Sir,

This has the reference of the write up 'Government should adopt Corporate work culture'' by Joginder Singh which was published in DE of 13 Sept. Strange it may appear but it is very true that where there is privatisation, there is efficiency. But this does not mean that Government agencies should find this as an excuse for inefficiency in their work. The Govt has to exist since we cannot enforce privatisation on it and so it has to take certain corrective measures to improve their work culture. The work has to be accepted as duty which means introducing the duty idea in work. When a person accepts his work as his duty, his concept of workmanship changes for the better. This also means involvement of people in their work so that the work is accepted as an inseparable part of life. This responsibility has to be accepted by the Heads of Various Departments. And by their personal example and frequent interaction with the employees, progress can be made. The other advantage accepting the duty idea is the acceptance of the fact that no work is menial.

It is very astonishing that a country like India which has produced a magnificient doctrine on work culture in the shape of Bhagavad Gita, which has influenced the whole world, is not following it herself. There is a need to apply this doctrine in our work culture so that the biggest democracy of the world also understand what duty means in addition to knowing what are the fundamental rights.

Yours etc...
Lt Col R K Langar
Shastri Nagar,
Jammu.