‘Mufti Govt cracked down on these schools in 2002’
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Aug 23: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today disowned the order issued by the School Education Department (SED) regarding the “taking over” of Falah-e-Aam Trust (FAT) schools in Kashmir, terming it “distorted.”
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Addressing a press conference at Dak Bungalow in South Kashmir’s Anantnag, Itoo said the Government’s original proposal was aimed only at addressing the issues faced by students during form submissions due to the absence of registration of these schools.
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“I want to make it clear that the order has been presented in a distorted manner and it is not our order,” she said.
Itoo noted that her order and approval was clear and stated that after the formation of management committees and CID clearance, “the schools will be returned. Meanwhile, the nearest principal will take care of them to ensure children do not face issues.”
Itoo said that after 2019, there were neither management committees nor registration for these schools, and without that, proper management was not possible.
“We tried to look into the matter, and it came to the fore that the CID reports were adverse. Even before that, some schools had been closed in previous years,” she said.
The Minister noted that nobody was ready to take responsibility when board exams were due, leaving students’ futures in the dark as the board refused to accept their forms.
“To address the issues faced during board examinations, it was decided that till management committees are reconstituted after CID clearance, the nearest school principal will take care of the matter. During exams, the principal would sign the forms so that students did not suffer,” she explained.
Itoo added that “people were scared to even sign their forms for the board examination.”
She assured that if locals form management committees and their verification is cleared by the CID, “we will hand over the schools to them even tomorrow.”
Reiterating that the Government has not shut down these institutions, she said, “Rather, we have shown them a way to address the issues they are facing. It is as per rules that the nearest school takes care of such institutions in these circumstances.”
Launching an attack on the PDP, Itoo recalled that in 2002 Mufti Sayeed’s Government had cracked down on these schools.
“But they did not say anything then. In 2019, CID reports came adverse, due to which these schools did not get registration or committees. Till now, nobody pointed out that this was wrong,” she said.
“You should rather ask them why the changes were made. Our proposal was for the benefit of children so they do not face issues in board exams,” she added.
“If questions are to be asked, they should be asked to those who have presented the order in a distorted manner,” she added.
Alleging that J&K became a Union Territory because of the PDP, Itoo said: “I want to ask, where was she sleeping till now? Why did she not raise her voice then? The adverse reports were during the PDP’s rule. There should be no politics over this.”
She further said that while the NC-led Government passed a resolution for Statehood and special status in the Assembly, it is because of the “madam”-referring to PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti-“that there has been destruction.”
“When she was CM, we lost everything. Working in the system has become difficult because of them.”
Itoo reiterated that the people of Kashmir must know the Government has not shut down any school. “Once management committees are formed and cleared by the CID, schools will be handed back.”
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