Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Apr 4: Announced in 2008 the much talked about Prime Minister’s employment package has proved a damp squib initiative for Kashmiri migrants as neither State nor Central Government during last over four years have shown any sincerity and seriousness to implement the same in letter and spirit.
Instead of doing any good to the community youth or helping in their rehabilitation the package has proved disastrous for hundreds of the KP overaged youth who in the wake of getting a Government job in Kashmir valley left their private jobs in various states and returned here to serve in Kashmir valley.
These youth are sitting idle for over last four years hoping against the hope that they will be given orders one day or the other as Government will fulfil its commitment made to them from time to time, said Puskhar Nath a community activist and father of one of the disgruntled youth.
Out of the 6000 jobs announced in PM’s package the 3000 were funded by the Union Government while for the remaining 3000 were to by State Government. However the State Government due to paucity of funds first initiated the recruitment process of 3000 posts funded by Central Government but out of them only appointment orders for 1452 applicants were issued while 800 posts remained unfilled due to reservation for SC and ST candidates.
As it was a special employment package for Kashmiri migrants there were no reserved classes among the community hence the State Government de-reserved these 800 posts in August, 2011 and it was decided that the waiting list candidates who could not be absorbed in previous list of 2010 when the recruitment process was started by Service Selection Board (SSB) will be given preference while filling the 800 de-reserved posts. But much to the surprise of these migrant youth later the Government backtracked from its promise, said B K Bhat a community youth.
He said the displaced youth who were at the verge of overage left their private jobs in different states and camped here with the hope that the Government will issue orders some day and they will join their duties in Kashmir. But much to their discomfiture the day never came in last five years with the result these youth were deprived of their private jobs as well.
The callousness of Government towards the displaced youth and its failure in implementation of the package in letter and spirit has generated an opinion among the community that instead of doing any good to the migrant youth it has harmed the interests of the community as a whole forcing the youth to resort to protest demonstrations, hunger strikes and token strikes.
But unmoved by the pleas of the community youth Government continued its rigid stand and announced fresh advertisements for the absorption of the new candidates without taking the plea of 200 to300 over-aged youth into consideration who were not only assured that they will be given preference while absorbing the 800 de-reserved posts.
This has happened despite the issuance of Cabinet decision of 2011 in which it was decided to fill up the 800 de-reserved posts among the pending merit list candidates. But this all proved an eye wash and a pal of gloom descended on these youth after the Government referred these posts to SSB for fresh advertisement without taking the plea of waiting list candidates into consideration. Fed up with Government’s callousness these candidates were left with no option but to knock the doors of court.
Even after the directives of the State High Court to reserve 200 posts for different groups the State Government is sitting on the order like a rock with the result these youth have lost all hope and are in complete despair.
Questioning the out come of the package Pandit youth term it an eye wash which instead of bringing any cheer on their faces had added to their miseries and problems.
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