Showcause heat on 79 block education officers in Odisha for delay in forwarding transfer applications

Bhubaneswar: The directorate of elementary education under the school and mass education department has issued showcause notices to 79 block education officers (BEOs) in various districts for alleged delay in forwarding transfer applications of elementary teachers to district education authorities for approval.According to the elementary teachers’ transfer policy of the state govt, the elementary teachers have to submit their transfer applications online between April 15 and 30 every year. These proposals are to be forwarded to district education officers by the BEOs by May 10, which are then verified by the district-level transfer committee and state-level transfer committee for approval. The five-member state-level committee comprises officials of the elementary education wing of the school and mass education department.The directorate pointed out on Saturday that while the deadline was May 10, many block education officers (BEOs) allegedly failed to process and forward the applications to DEOs on time despite receiving all the applications through the online system. It stated that the inaction has been viewed seriously as it has affected the teacher transfer process across districts. Suitable action will be taken as deemed fit, the directorate warned.A total of 1,873 transfer applications were received by the defaulting BEOs from 17 districts, but of these, only seven, all from Kashipur block of Rayagada district, were forwarded to the DEO concerned within the deadline, while the remaining 1,866 applications were pending. Among the major defaulters, Sorada block in Ganjam district had 62 pending applications, Mohana in Gajapati district had 69 pending and Chandbali in Bhadrak had 74.The defaulting BEOs have been directed to submit their replies within three days explaining the reasons behind the delay and why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them.While transfer of elementary teachers was previously not allowed in Odisha, the rules were changed in 2018, allowing inter- and intra-district transfers on the grounds of rationalisation of teachers in govt schools and personal grounds like terminal illness, disability, etc.Stating that transfers are a time-bound process, the directorate stated that the delay in forwarding applications has affected the overall process because it has to be completed within June 10.