Port Blair, July 22: The Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray in his letter to the Lt. Governor has discussed in detail regarding the transfer and posting of teachers in the Southern Group of Islands. The MP said that the Administration is well aware of the problems being faced by the Govt. Servants posted to the Southern Group. Whenever the Govt. Servants are transferred to those remote islands, they either try their level best to get the transfer order cancelled or remain on leave or take political shelter or false medical ground to skip transfer, he said.
As per the existing transfer policy in general for employees of A&N Islands circulated by the Administration vide circular No 55-3/2007-PW dated 30.07.2007, Group ‘A’ & ‘B’ (Executive Engineer, Principal, Assistant Engineer, Vice Principal, Doctors etc.) are to serve two years in the Southern Group of Island while Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ (GTT, PST, Nurse, Junior Engineer, Clerk, Draughtsman, Head Clerk etc.) one year in Southern Group of Islands.
The Administration had also issued a transfer policy vide No. 55-3/2007-PW dated 12.04.2005 post-tsunami, which stipulates that the Teaching Staff shall be posted for a period of 10 months on rotation basis, considering the practical shortcomings. Whereas the Education Department is still following the old transfer policy of the year 2001 notified vide Notification No. 221/2001 dated 5th Dec. 2001, which stipulates:
Zone-I: Schools located in Nancowry, Katchal, Campbell Bay, Strait Island, Dugong Creek – 2 years.
Zone –II: Schools located in Car Nicobar/ Littla Andaman – 3 years.
Pointing out the effective Transfer Policy adopted by the A&N Police, the MP said that the Police Department has fixed tenure of 300 effective working days when posted to Southern Group of Islands and relive order assured after 300 days.
He further said that the Education Department has also issued further amendment in transfer policy in case of teachers who attained 55 years, which provides that “Teacher who attained the age of 55 years or above shall be considered for their desired place of posting taking into account their interest as far as possible subject to availability of vacancy.
There are also similar placed inaccessible places in North Andaman like Paschimsagar, Talbagan, Forest Encroachment areas, where there are no basic facilities such as road, water, electricity, accommodation etc.
Mentioning the above details the Member of Parliament has said that considering the practical problems being faced by Govt. Employees due to existing transfer policies and resultant problem in functioning of public service departments in remote islands, it is demanded to make necessary amendment in the transfer policy of all Govt. Departments, especially Health, Education, APWD, Clerical Cadre, Agriculture, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry etc. to the effect that the tenure of employees posted to Southern Group of Islands and inaccessible remote areas of North Andaman shall be one academic year with assured relieve from the station after the fixed tenure.