Rehbar e Khel policy was framed by BJP and PDP collation government. It was clearly mentioned that no post of Physical Education Teacher will be advertised till the Rehbar e Khel teachers are regularized. In view of clear assurance, the policy was accepted by us, because it was clarified that no post will be advertised during this prescribed period of 7 years. Appointment of REK teachers was made by the selection committee appointed by the government purely on a merit basis and we joined against the REK posts under this scheme in January 2019.
Almost all the selected candidates are highly qualified with PhD, M Phil, and Masters degrees and even some having qualified for NET, SET, and JRF.
Besides, many have played a role at the national and international levels with them having extraordinary talent in their field of activities.
As you all know that the period of all rehbar schemes was fixed for 5 years. However, the period of the Rehbar e Khek scheme was fixed for 7 years. Our demand is to minimize 7 years period up to 5 years as in the case of Rehbar e Taleem, Rehbar Zairat and Rehbar e Junglat.
The ex-LG Murmu had listened to our legitimate demands and in this regard, he constituted a high-level committee but unfortunately the report of the committee is still awaited.
Our demand is to reduce/minimise the period from 7 years to 5 years and enhance salary. As we were hoping that the government will do justice to highly qualified REK teachers. Suddenly in the month of May 2022, the GAD issued a memo that all freeze posts will be de-freezes. On hearing this news Rehbar e Khel teachers were shocked and against this cruel order, and all the REK teachers protested in both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir. The protest in the Kashmir division was organised under the umbrella of ex-president EJAC Mohammad Rafique Rather. In his speech, Rather Sahib faced an acute heart attack as he could not bear this injustice with REK teachers, who had already completed 4 years precious period.
The role of Rehbar-e-Khel teachers has been appreciated at all levels as the job entrusted to them from time to time like school work COVID-19 duty, election duty, vaccination duty, Back to Village and sports activities in the district and block panchayat levels have been successfully implemented with zeal, zest, and enthusiasm.
On 29th of May 2022, REK teachers’ delegation Dheeraj Salaria, Mudasir Muzafer, Narind and Raja Shafique Khan met LG Manoj Sinha who assured that your demands are very genuine and all the demands will be fullfilled. After completing 7 months, the teachers for the last 26 days are protesting against this injustice. Now we are committed to continuing this protest till we get justice.
All the national and regional parties including BJP, PDP, Congress, National, PC, Apni Party, DAP, etc hence accepted that our protest is most genuine and have assured us to support our justified/legitimate demands.
Unfortunately, the LG government is not giving any response and we are once again requesting the administration to fullfill our genuine demands as already agreed so that justice will prevail. To avoid any further inconveniences being faced by Rehbar e Khel teachers.
The writer, a Rehbar e Khel teacher, is a PhD scholar and an Executive Member of EJAC

Syed Aijaz