Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 17: All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations and their wings Dalit OBC Minorities (DOM) and National SC/ST/OBC Students Youth Front (NSYF) met Chief Secretary, J&K to discuss the issues faced by SC/ST/OBCs, minorities of J&K. A memorandum of demands was also submitted.
JKUT president of the Confederation, R K Kalsotra led the delegation. Others who were part of it included S Kuldeep Singh, State president NSYF and Dr Sameer Choudhary.
Kalsotra said that various demands of SC/ST/OBC and minorities were raised during the meeting. Reservation in promotions has been stopped in J&K and it should be implemented since 2015, retrospectively. Previously it was assured that the proposal will be looked into and a meeting was also organised but unfortunately it was deferred. It is requested that this should be prioritised again. He claimed that there is a backlog of about one lakh candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBCs. This backlog should be filled up immediately.
He said at present a lot of employees are working on daily wage basis, contractuals, NYC youth, seasonal teachers, adhoc staff. None of them is on permanent basis. Thus, they should be made permanent and the reserved category employees should be given their due benefits. Safaikaramcharis belonging to the most underprivileged section should be made permanent.
A proposal of Padma Shree Award and compensation for teacher Rajni Bala, who got martyred in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on May 31, 2022 was also put forth by the delegation.
There is 5 year relaxation in age and 3 year relaxation for SC/ST and OBCs respectively as per UPSC. But Kalsotra noted that in J&K it is 3 years for SC/ST and hence it should be 5 at par with the central rules. Implement Mandal Commission report in J&K.
On December 15, 2022 two SC youth were killed in Rajouri, during a terrorist attack. They were given a mere compensation but no job security to the family. It was requested that appointment should be given to their kin immediately.
The delegation demanded hostels for SC/OBC students on lines of ST student hostels. Moreover, on the lines of police schools, kids of Safaikaramcharis should also have access to quality and free education.