Status of Cabinet in UT is not same as in a State but still Omar can freely execute some promises

Those Under-Employed in public services expect Omar Government to grant them ‘Legitimate Wages’

Daya Sagar
Let us give J&K UT Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a benefit vote and hope that he would stand to the election manifesto promises atleast as the Status of Chief Minister / Cabinet/ Legislature in Terms of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019 ( Act No 34 of 2019) in a UT like J&K facilitates him/ his cabinet.

11. The NC Manifesto also focuses on the employment generation and adequate appointment opportunities for the youth of J&K. Omar Abdullah had in 2104 as Chief of J&K State very compassionately addressed the sufferings of the unemployed youth then being exploited even by the government ( what to talk of private sector employers) after he received some representations / some facts were brought to his notice by stories pyblished in State Times Daily by withdrawing his own governments (NC – Congress) order of 2011(Order No.257-F of 2011 dated 27-10-2011 under Cabinet Decision 193/23/2011 Dated 19.10.2011, based on recommendations of a committee constituted vide G. O. No.319- GAD of 2011 dated 10-03-2011 , awn in 2014 ) after a Cabinet Decision iof 31-05-2014 which had laid down unfair ‘Modalities’ for fixed salary mode of Recruitment in Non-Gazetted categories for future recruitment for class-IV, III / other Non gazetted posts where under new appointee was to be paid around 1/3rd of due wages for some years. Omar Abdullah had also been quoted as having said that that he was not aware of the harms the said policy was doing. There are some more employment policies still existing and those employed there could hopefully look at Omar Abdullah for applying corrections . Such employment seeking people being exploited and who have been already exploited could be like
    (i) Anganwadi Workers who are almost full time engaged employees and have to perform duties of great public importance that concern welfare of the woman/ mothers/ infants/ children and are paid emoluments that may be not more than 1/3rd of the minimum equivalent job they are performing ( Level-3 Jr Clerk). No doubt they are under a Governemnt of India Scheme but Omar Abdullah JK CM can propose to Governemnt for their regular employment and in the mean time the UT contribution could be raised to half the minimum of L-3 ( VII pay commission) scale with DA which is in his reach
    (ii) other case could be of SPOs ( special police officers employed in Police and their employment policy having mentions related to militancy control but they are paid 6000/pm first 3 yrs ,9000 / from 4 to 5 yrs, Rs.12000 from 6 to 10 yrs Rs.15000/pm from 11 to 15 yrs and Rs.18000/pm after 15 yrs with no DA/ increment etc ( the data is as per the information available and subject to correction, but surely it surely very close to the status) which no adequate even for the survival of one person and high level job commitment is expected from them where as a regular constable is paid L-2 level salary with allowances. Still many run for getting employed as AWW or SPO which clearly shows poor is the economic status of the families they belog too. Omar Abdullah may set the grant of L-2 pay scale for SPOs as one of his first priorties
12. The NC Manifesto also refers to requirement of distantly placed areas and people of J&K. After the election results were declared NC leadership has also opined that the people of distant / remote areas have shown more nearness to NC. It is also a well read fact that the distant and backward areas have not been adequately attended by earlier governments..One key indicator could be the present placement of district administrative units which are more in lesser distantly placed( time and distance) areas.which apparently are more in Chenab valley, Pir Panchal region and areas of present districts of Udhampur & Kathua which could be well supported by the fact that in 1978 there were 6 Districts ( Jammu,Kathua,Udhampur, Doda,Rajouri,Poonch ) in Jammu Division and only 3 Distrcts ( Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla) in Kashmir Valley but after very irrational reorganisation of districts in 1979 ( NC lead Government SRO 306 of 6/6/1979 ) & 2006/07 ( Congress- PDP Government SRO 185 of 22 May 2007) there are now 10 districts each in Jammu Division as well as in Kashmir Valley ( Kashmir Division of JK UT). So need for reornasation of District Administrative units is utmost there and there will be no hurdles before the Omar Abdullah lead NC- Congress alliance Government in case the government goes for applying fair
    corrections.
    Continued
    (The author is a Sr Journalist & a known analyst of J&K affairs).