Special Correspondent
JAMMU: While the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has expressed concern for the kith and kin of 2016 Kashmir unrest and announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia, there but what could be an irony than that the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council headed by her doesn’t have any pension schemes for the employees.
A huge number of employees are presently working with an autonomous body, being manned by the government but lack of any pension scheme worries them of financial insecurity in future.
According to sources in the Council, the employees on many occasions had also approached to the concerned authorities in the previous dispensations with a plea of introducing pension scheme but efforts remained futile with proposal not taken up in the cabinet meetings.
“The government must give due consideration to the proposal of introducing the pension scheme for the employees, which will at least secure their future,” an employee of the Council, pleading anonymity told this correspondent.
He however, rued compensation, ex-gratia and relief for those, who instigate violence or have surrendered before the government but there is no future security for the employees. Hundreds of employees comprising of coaches, administrative officials, class IV and others, are sweating hard to bring sports at national and international map but their dedicated efforts are not acknowledged accordingly as nobody is serious towards this department.
“Sports in Jammu and Kashmir always remained in the backburner and was never given the priority,” said an official adding that the Central Government is releasing funds worth crores for the development of sports in the state but nothing concrete is so far seen on ground. Insiders in the Council said that in case the government gives nod to an introduction of pension scheme for the employees, the department has sufficient funds to meet retirement expenditure till 2030.
“Sufficient funds in the shape of CP Fund of employees are lying reserved with the Council and if government signals green, they do not need to worry till 2030 as the retired employees can get the pension from these funds,” an official said.
He said that earlier during NC-Congress dispensation, the then chief minister Omar Abdullah showed keen interest in enforcing pension scheme for the State Sports Council employees but unfortunately the process lingered on followed by change of regime.
“We have approached the senior officials, who are at the helm of affairs with the issue and they have assured with some positive outcome soon,” he asserted. He further said that there are around 15 bodies functional in the state which is deprived of no pension scheme for the employees. “The process is on and soon the proposal will be submitted to the standing committee for further action,” Wahid Parra, Secretary, State Sports Council here said.
He said that detailed project report is prepared and hopefully, the employees will soon listen to ‘good news.’
Besides Mehbooba Mufti (Chief Minister) is the president of the State Sports Council, Sports Minister Imran Raza Ansari is the vice president, Administrative Secretary, Planning & Development Department, Administrative Secretary, Finance Department, Administrative Secretary, Youth Services and Sports Department, and Director General, Youth Services and Sports as Members.
The Council also have two joint secretaries, 20 members and three special invitees.
