Jammu and Kashmir: Omar Abdullah faces heat over new recruitment policy Barely keeping his head above the controversies regarding the AFSPA repeal and the custody death of National Conference worker Syed Mohammad Yousuf, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has courted fresh trouble by introducing an amended recruitment policy that is being opposed by the PDP, BJP and the states youth. The government has started the Fixed Salary Mode of Recruitment in the Non-Gazetted Categories to cut costs in the state, which is reeling under heavy financial burden. The step triggered protest demonstrations by the student community across the state. The Opposition parties, which had successfully pushed Omar on the back foot over the AFSPA and custody death issues, have opened another front on the fixed salary issue. They claimed that the governments wrong policies are further alienating the states youth. The affected youth believe that the policy was not at all acceptable since they were already hit by unemployment. According to the policy, a fresh recruit would get only 50 per cent of the basic pay for the first two years and 75 per cent for the next three years. No allowances are payable. The rules cover the Class III and IV non- gazetted posts in the state government. The protests have been continuing and the students in Jammu University and other colleges are boycotting classes since November 1, when the order came into force. Several students were injured in clashes with the police, when the latter resorted to baton charge. The students, including girls, have now decided to hold a candle rally everyday on the university premises until the government took back its order. All unemployed youth of the state are shocked after the state government announced the policy, Jammu University Research Scholar Forum (JURSF) president Suresh Ajay Magotra said. Questioning the logic behind the policy, he asked: Why this irresponsible move when the ministers draw over Rs 85,000 per month from the governments coffers. In March this year, the state assembly had passed a bill to nearly double the salaries of the MLAs, MLCs and ministers. The enhanced salaries of the MLAs and MLCs are Rs 80,300 while the ministers now get Rs 85,000 per month. The Speaker and the chief minister now draw Rs 90,000 per month. On the other hand, according to the new recruitment policy, the allowances - such as DA, HRA, CCA and annual increments - shall start only after completion of five years of service. PDPs chief patron Mufti Mohammad Sayed said instead of formulating a comprehensive youth policy, the incumbent government was trying to befool the younger generation. BJP spokesperson and national executive member Jitendra Singh said: The 50 per cent salary rule will alienate the youth. It is an injustice to pay only Rs 2,800 to a new employee who is officially in the Rs 5,200- Rs 20,200 grade. He added: If the NC- led coalition government wants to cut down on the state budget, it should start by first cutting down the salaries and allowances drawn by the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues. The Opposition National Panthers Party also opposed the decision in a demonstration outside the governors house.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 06:50:45 +0000
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