Salaries of four ZEOs withheld by CEO Rajouri for skipping important meeting

Shyam Sood

Rajouri, Oct 20: For skipping an urgent meeting organised on the direction of District development Commissioner, Chief Education Officer (CEO) Rajouri in an order issued on Wednesday withheld the salaries of four Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) till further order.

As per reports on October 18, a meeting of the concerned district /Zonal officers was chaired by Rajesh Kumar Shavan, DDC in order to review /implementation of the Child Protection Law & Policies; functioning of Women Water Conservation Club & Self Help Groups under NRLM.

After threadbare discussions in the meeting about the low literacy rate of 56.68% in the district as per 2011 census (65% male & 47.1% female) DDC directed the Chief Education Officer (CEO) to convene an urgent meeting of all the Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) for taking necessary measures to increase the enrollment of children in the schools including of dropouts in the age group of 4-18 years.

Pertinent to mention that during recent visits of higher authorities, including Union MoS, Advisor to Lt Governor, Divisional Commissioner, concern was shown by all about the low literacy rate in the district.

“Accordingly a meeting of all the ZEOs was convened on October 20, to discuss the measures to increase enrollment in the government schools. ZEOs were to be aware for organising meetings with members of PRIs in this matter & to collect their mobile phone numbers of concerned Sarpanches so that a ZOOM meet with the DDC could be organised for further discussion/directions” said Ch Gulzar Hussain, CEO.

“Despite all the ZEOs being informed well in time about this urgent meeting, ZEOs of Sunderbani, Nowshera, Doongi & Baljaralan Education Zones showed non-seriousness and didn’t bother to attend the meeting,” said CEO.

Explanation from all the four absentee ZEOs has been sought and the salaries of these officers have been kept withheld till further orders, he added.

At present (2021) reports the overall literacy of Rajouri district is 68.17%, while it was 56.68% according to 2011 census.

“Out of about 90000 students enrolled in the government schools in Rajouri district about 44000 are girls while the enrollment in private schools is about 55 000. Several initiatives have been taken for the education of girl students, including the opening of five KGBV (one already functioning), 50% seats in Nomads Boarding school etc.” said CEO.