Srinagar, June 23 : Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Sakeena Itoo on Monday said the reservation review panel was not formed in response to political noise or social media pressure but to genuinely address public concerns.
“The reservation committee was not formed because someone tweeted about it. It’s not for them, it’s for the people,” she said while speaking to reporters in Tangmarg. “We are serious. That is why a cabinet sub-committee was constituted and given a six-month deadline.”
She said the sub-committee completed its report just one day before the deadline. “The report was submitted to the cabinet, and the cabinet then sent it to the Law Department for vetting,” she added.
Reassuring the public of the government’s commitment to a fair review, she said that the Chief Minister himself is deeply concerned about this issue. “We want a transparent and balanced policy.”
Speaking on reforms in the Education Department, Itoo said that rationalisation of staff had already begun and that teachers posted in overcrowded schools would be shifted to remote areas.
“Wherever there are more teachers than needed, we will transfer them. Those who haven’t worked in remote areas will now have to serve there for at least a few years,” she said.
She added that earlier, transfer policies were not being followed, and promotions had been stalled. “We have cleared many DPCs. I want to congratulate the officers who made it possible. Rationalisation has started and will continue,” she said.
Responding to concerns about vacancies in educational offices, the minister said that many posts of CEOs, ZEOs, and others were vacant before the formation of the current government. “We have filled most of them now. Some additional charges remain but we are working on it,” she added.(KNS)
