EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 16: The Lieutenant Governor led Union Territory administration had deputed Commissioner Secretary to the Government, Higher Education Department Talat Parvez Rohella as overall in-charge at Lakhanpur for COVID management but he in turn has deputed regular as well as contractual staff of various colleges for the same duty, which is likely to impact the regular working of colleges.
As per order issued by government on Tuesday, Commissioner Secretary was instructed to station at Lakhanpur till further orders but according to sources, being head of Higher Education department, Secretary has deputed many teaching faculty members, contractual staff posted in various government degree colleges in district Kathua, Samba have been deployed at Lakhanpur for COVID-19 management duties.
Strangely, the Principal of the Colleges as well as Peon of the Colleges have been deployed at Lakhanpur and have to perform almost similar duties. As per office order issued on 15th of October, Principal GCW Hiranagar, Principal GDC Samba along with staff members, Principal GDC Kathua, Principal GDC Billawar, Principal GDC Basohli, Principal GDC Vijaypur, Principal GDC Bani, Principal GDC Mahanpur along with their staff have been assigned duties at registration counters (Sales Tax building premises), Registration counters (Yard), Green corridor beside other works.
Moreover teaching as well as non-teaching staff of colleges have been deployed at Lakhanpur to perform duties during morning shift from 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, while evening shift is from 1:30 to 7:30 PM. Even Hostel peons as well as peons deputed in the colleges have also been deployed at Lakhanpur.
Sources said that the posting of Principals as well as other teaching staff would impact the working of colleges. “Examination for various semesters are being conducted in the colleges, while teaching staff is already deputed for evaluation of answer scripts, preparing time table for new semester students, to prepare online material for teaching etc”, source said, adding that earlier also the college teaching staff had also performed duties during COVID-19 management as COVID-19 centres were established at these colleges.
“If the teaching staff would not perform their duties at Lakhanpur, the department will call their explanation but if other works allotted to them such as evaluating answer scripts or would not prepare a time-table, again explanation will be sought by higher ups. Deputing teaching staff in COVID-19 management as well as during elections will ultimately impact the teaching process in colleges and the students enrolled in the colleges would suffer.
Arun Kumar Manhas, Project Director, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, who is assisting Talat Parvez Rohella at Lakhanpur said that the number of counters at Lakhanpur have increased along with testing capacity. “To manage all the affairs of COVID-19 management, staff from different departments including School Education, Higher Education, Police beside others have been involved at Lakhanpur”, Arun Kumar Manhas said. |
