Asif Iqbal Naik
Jammu, Feb 11, 2026: A three-member delegation of Teachers’ Association JKRTTF District Kishtwar, led by District President Musharaf Shabir Sheikh and comprising District Spokesperson Nasir Lone and Executive Member Irshad Ahmad Sheikh, met Education Minister Sakina Itoo and Minister for Youth Services & Sports Satish Sharma at the Civil Secretariat Jammu on Tuesday to highlight pressing issues of the teaching community.
The delegation presented structured feedback collected from various zonal units, particularly Marwah, Dachhan and other remote areas, and projected what it termed as genuine grassroots concerns. Restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for teachers appointed after 2010 was strongly demanded to ensure financial security and dignity after retirement, especially for those serving in difficult terrains.
Describing zonal restructuring as the core administrative requirement, the delegation pointed out that educational backwardness in Marwah, Dachhan, Drabshalla and Nagseeni is largely due to weak and understaffed zonal administration. They sought immediate filling of vacant posts in Education Zone Marwah, creation of a separate education zone for Dachhan, upgradation of Drabshalla zone with full-fledged status, and strengthening of Nagseeni zone with adequate staff.
The association also demanded early disposal of long-pending one-time exemption cases and delegation of powers to competent Chief Education Officers for timely resolution. A clear and time-bound transfer policy for RET teachers, particularly women serving for years in snow-bound and remote areas, was sought to ensure fairness and humane working conditions.
Among other demands, the delegation called for upgradation of UPS Hasti and UPS Nowpachi to High Schools, full-fledged status and infrastructure for five High Schools in Marwah, rationalisation of teaching staff as per PTR norms, adequate staffing in ZEO Office Marwah and higher secondary schools, and special allowances for teachers posted in hard and shadow areas.
They further sought construction of Teachers’ Bhawans in all zones, conversion of supernumerary posts of RRET teachers into substantive posts, updating of graduation degrees in service records, reduction of non-teaching burdens, enhancement of honorarium for cooks and AAYAs, and regularisation of sweepers as MTS.
With the Minister for Youth Services & Sports, the delegation pressed for a permanent job policy for NYCs and expediting regularisation of REKs. The members also met the Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, and the Director General Sports, who conveyed time-bound technical assurances.
The ministers gave a patient hearing and assured positive consideration of the genuine demands. The Teachers’ Association JKRTTF Kishtwar expressed hope that the assurances would soon translate into concrete action on the ground.
