Jaipur: With the transfer ban on govt schoolteachers continuing for the eighth consecutive year, Grade-III teachers have demanded that the Rajasthan govt implement the 2005 transfer guidelines permitting limited inter-district transfers, warning of protests if their long-pending demand is not addressed.Teachers’ associations said the prolonged freeze has severely restricted career mobility, promotions and family reunification, leaving thousands of educators posted away from their home districts for years.The teachers cited the state govt’s transfer policy issued on May 31, 2005, which provides for inter-district transfers of Grade-III teachers within a capped quota. Under the policy, transfer orders are to be issued by the district education officer (Elementary Education) of the district where the transfer is sought. The total number of transfers in a district cannot exceed 10% of sanctioned posts, of which up to 30% may be allocated for inter-district or inter-divisional transfers, while the remaining 70% must be accommodated within the district.Vipin Prakash Sharma, state president of the Rajasthan Primary and Secondary Teachers Association, said the current system has created a bottleneck in promotions.He added, Grade-II posts in urban districts are often filled by promoted teachers from other districts, reducing opportunities for Grade-III teachers already serving in those districts to move up through promotion.He said that while teachers from western Rajasthan who are promoted can opt for postings in urban districts, Grade-III teachers remain unable to either secure promotions or seek transfers because the govt has not resumed inter-district transfers.Mahendra Pandey, association’s chief general secretary, said the 30% cap on inter-district and inter-divisional transfers was introduced precisely to ensure that promotions within districts and divisions were not adversely affected, and urged the govt to revive the mechanism.Rajesh Yadav, secretary, school education, said Grade-III teachers are appointed in districts based on merit and preferences exercised during counselling. He said transfers within districts and divisions are carried out as per govt norms, and requests involving genuine medical or personal hardships are considered on merit. However, he did not indicate whether the govt was considering lifting the broader transfer moratorium.
