J&K/JAMMU (The Stellar News), Anil Bhardwaj: 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 honourable Chief Secretary, J&K to discuss the issues faced by SC/ST/OBCs, minorities of J&K. A memorandum of demands was also submitted to His Excellency for his due consideration.
RK Kalsotra, state President Confederation, led the delegation. Others who were part of it included Secy DOM S Kuldeep Singh Giani, State President NSYF,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 was deferred. It is requested that this should be prioritised again immediately.
There is a huge backlog of 1 lakh candidates belonging to SC/ST/OBCs. This backlog should be filled immediately. There should also be a re-advertisement of the backlog posts withdrawn by the government in PSC, SSRB, and the backlog in SKUAST, J&K.
Kalsotra mentioned that Currently a lot of employees are working on daily wage basis, contractual obligations, NYC youth, seasonal teachers, ad hoc staff. None of them are on permanent basis. Thus, they should be made permanent and the reserved category employees should be given their due benefits. Safaikaramcharis belong to the most underprivileged section and they should be made permanent on immediate notice.
Proposal of Padma Shree Award and compensation for Teacher Rajni Bala, who got martyred in a terrorist attack in Kashmir on 31st May, 2022 was also put forth by the delegation. Her daughter should also be given full pay on her basis.
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. Mandal commission report hasn’t been implemented in toto which enshrines 27% reservation for OBCs. In J&K it is 4% and should be at par with central norms.
Moreover, the habitants of village Chak Jangi, Samba have raised their concerns regarding shift of a proposed junction at Chak Jangi Samba on National Express Highway Delhi- Ludhiana- Amritsar -Katra to a Khad lying belween Chak Jangi and Jatwal i.e. between 479 to 480 km point on National Express Highway. The land of the villagers is custodian allotment since 1950s. Thus, they won’t be able to get a claim of the land, or cash based compensation. Hence, it is requested that either the junction should be shifted or another adjoining land should be allotted to the victim families. Adding on, whatever land the government has acquired from illegal settlements, that should be distributed among the landless SC/ST/OBC and minorities for having their habitation or cultivation.
It was also noted that caste-based atrocities are on a rise in J&K. These cases are often ignored and lingered on. The culprits are not booked immediately as per the provisions of SC/ST Atrocities Act 2018 but the cases are resolved via settlements. Henceforth, such cases should be dealt on fast track basis and due compensation should be given to the aggrieved parties.
On 15th December, 2022 two SC youth were killed in Rajouri, J&K 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 kins immediately so that they can have their livelihood up and running.
Scheduled Caste certificates are issued on the basis of land records but most of the SC families do not have land and have trouble getting their certificates. Thus, a separate provision should be brought to ease the issuance of their certification.
Anil Bhardwaj Jammu Kashmir, [21-04-2023 09:31]
It was also highlighted that since 25th December, 2022, the Scheduled Caste Seat is lying vacant with JKPSC. This hasn’t been filled till now even though two seats for the general category were filled. Moreover, there should be representation given to ST, OBC, minorities in PSC as well as SSRB.
Recently, on 5 April, 2023, SSP Ganderbal released an order for DC Ganderbal to relocate PM Package employees due to security concerns. the situation is serious in valley and employees are being shifted, reserved category employees should also be considered to be shifted immediately by the administration. Moreover, a transfer policy should be made for such employees with due course of time.
Kalsotra also proposed that the issues of SC/ST/OBC and minorities are dynamic and ever changing. Thus, we request that there should be a quarterly meeting with the Confederation representatives to discuss their grievances and make adequate arrangements/policies to address their issues. And invite Confederation to the welfare scheme meetings for review and discussion.
Lastly, 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.
All the aforementioned demands were considered by honourable CS and he assured that attention would be paid to them.
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Anil Bhardwaj
