Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 3: The State Government has formally notified 45 villages as `Backward Areas’ entitling their inhabitants to 20 per cent reservations in the Government jobs and 10 per cent in promotions.
However, in yet another blatant act of discrimination and bias towards Jammu region, the Government has declared 28 villages of Kashmir region as backward as against just 17 in Jammu region. The declaration of new backward villages indicated that it was not discrimination with Jammu but within the region out of 17 villages declared as backward, 16 fell in just three constituencies represented by the Congress Ministers.
Much to the surprise, out of 17 villages declared as backward in Jammu province, 15 fell in just two districts of Doda and Ramban, where all four Assembly segments were held by the Congress and two in Akhnoor, which too was represented by the Congress, a coalition partner in the Government.
Not even a single village in the Assembly constituencies represented by the Opposition parties including BJP (four), BJP rebels (7), National Panthers Party (3) and Independents (2-Bishnah and Kathua) has been declared as backward in Jammu region.
Even within Doda district, the majority share has gone to Doda and Banihal Assembly segments, which were represented by two Congress Ministers-Abdul Mujeed Wani (Works) and Viqar Rasool (Technical Education).
Official sources told the Excelsior that Social Welfare Department has notified 45 backward villages after the State Cabinet gave a nod to this effect in its meeting last month. The villages have been notified after amending Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Rules.
For the past quite sometime, demands had been pouring in from various quarters including legislators for declaring certain villages in their constituencies as backward areas. The legislators had also raised the demand in both Houses of the Legislature.
Sources said the declaration of a village as backward area entitled residents of that area to 20 per cent reservations in the State Government jobs followed by 10 per cent reservations in promotion after attaining the jobs.
Sources, however, confirmed that the decision to declare villages as backward areas has been taken keeping in view the `political considerations’ as out of 17 villages declared as backward in Jammu region, 16 fell in the constituencies of three Congress Ministers in Doda, Banihal and Akhnoor while only one village was located in Bhaderwah, which was also represented by the Congress.
The declaration of less backward villages in Jammu region i.e. just 17 as against 28 in Kashmir region was another example of discrimination with Jammu region, which took place in the presence of Congress Ministers in the Cabinet, which had approved the decision of declaring 45 villages as backward.
Eight villages declared as backward areas in Doda district included Ganika in Bijarni Patwari circle, Mandole and Gagla in Shamthi Patwar, Shuryan in Arnora Patwar, Bhabore in Jodhpur Patwar and Suhanda and Haneja in Shiva Patwar. In Bhaderwah, Kahila village in Berreru Patwar has been declared as backward.
In Banihal tehsil of Ramban district, Tethar, Gund Tethar and Nowgam under Thethat Patwar, Chreel, Lamber and Darshipora under Chreel Lamber Patwar and Devgol in Devgol Patwar have been declared as backward villages.
In Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu district, Sangani and Barola in Banri Patwar circle have been declared as backward villages.
Seventeen villagers under different Patwar circles of Kulgam district in the Kashmir Valley have been declared as backward. They included Chumbgund, Behibagh in same Patwar, Berigam in Bon Devsar Patwar, Shirpora in Frisal Patwar, Okey in same Patwar, Churath in Chowgam Patwar, Nowbal, Batpora and Naibasti (Wanpora) in Wanpora Patwar, Chandian (Pajan) in Akhran Patwar, Dumchakoo in Mirhama Patwar, Adijan (Devsar), Begam, Kakran, Tengbal in Gopalpora Patwar, Gassiraina in Pahloo Patwar and Agroo Kilam Bozgam Patwar.
In Kupwara district, village Doniwari in Kanthpora Patwar while in Handwara tehsil of Kupwara, village Punzwa (Daulatpora) in Villigam Patwar have been declared as backward villages.
In Pulwama district, village Chattrogam under Lalpora Patwar circle and in district Anantnag, village Trahpoo in Sahib Abad (Achabal) Patwar, Devipora in Kawarigam Patwar and Hamlet Makdampora Kralmand in Mundal Patwar have been declared as backward.
Village Hardu Chanam in same Patwar circle of Rafiabad in Baramulla district has also been declared as backward.
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