Calls for hardship allowances for employees posted in far-flung areas
SRINAGAR: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly today convened a meeting at the Assembly Complex, Srinagar, to review audit paras pertaining to the School Education Department.
The meeting was chaired by PAC Chairman Sham Lal Sharma and members including Mubarak Gul, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, Devinder Kumar Manyal, and Sajad Shaheen also participated in the meeing.
The Committee undertook a detailed examination of Audit Paras 3.5 (2002–03), 2.1 (2018–19), and 4.2 (2019–20) related to the School Education Department.
At the outset, members deliberated on key issues including construction of the DIET at Poonch, establishment of Model Schools, and utilization of funds for infrastructure development and other facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairman Sham Lal Sharma emphasized the need to formulate a vibrant transfer policy and ensure deployment of category based teachers and lecturers in their local remote areas to uplift the educational scenario in such far- flung areas.
“Those who have benefited on categories including SC and ST should serve their own people and local population first in these remote areas,” the chairman said.
The Committee pitched for providing hardship allowance to employees posted in remote areas for their convince.
The Committee stressed the importance of disseminating quality education to students enrolled in government schools for overall improvement of the education scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
It also called for fast recruitment to fill vacant posts and instructed the concerned departments to expedite the process of referring vacancies to recruitment agencies.
The Committee further underlined the need to fix responsibility on officers for delays in creation of infrastructure, which has caused an undue lag in extending benefits to students under various schemes.
The Chairman directed the concerned authorities to rationalize staff across schools and ensure that students in remote areas have access to quality education and all required facilities.
The Committee also directed the administration to conduct a fresh safety audit of all school buildings and related infrastructure, particularly in flood-affected areas, and to take immediate safety measures to safeguard lives.
PAC members called for timely completion of ongoing projects and urgent attention to the maintenance of damaged school buildings for the convenience of students.
They asserted that pending works must be expedited and completed within stipulated timeframes.
The Chairman also instructed that accountability be fixed on officers responsible for project delays and sought a comprehensive report on violations.
He reiterated the PAC’s mandate to promote transparency, fiscal discipline, and accountability in governance.
Stressing the importance of providing the best possible facilities to students, the Committee recommended adopting vertical construction models for the judicious use of available land.
The meeting was attended by Principal Accountant General J&K, K. P. Yadaw; Secretary, School Education, Ram Niwas Sharma; Secretary, Legislative Assembly; Director General, Accounts and Treasuries; Directors of School Education Kashmir & Jammu and other senior officers.
