Unemployment rate jumps in J&K from 14 to 18.3 percent

At a time when unemployment rate has witnessed rise and hundreds of posts are lying vacant in various departments of J&K, ‘discrepancy’ syndrome in the selection lists by recruitment agencies acts as a major barrier in filling up widening number of positions across UT, the latest to hit –police list.

It was in Lok Sabha the Centre in a written reply said claimed that J&K government had carried out several reforms including in the area of recruitments and that a large scale recruitment drive had been carried out after formation of UT in most transparent manner.

True as it may be, but the ground scenario presents another picture- the unfortunate and consistent syndrome of discrepancies which are found when the list gets final or approved by recruitment agencies. This has not only marred the chances of genuine and deserving candidates getting their due, but affects the scene of many departments having many posts, even at senior levels lying vacant.

Sources said this has also created a situation of officers at the seniormost level made to carry the burden of dual responsibilities, by way of entrusting them additional charge- a favorite disposition strategy of bureaucrats in the Secretariat, which only affects the productivity and also delivery of duties at the ground level.

While the picture is true in almost every department where posts are lying vacant and work is given as ‘additional responsibility’ the higher level, lack of junior officials mostly in field work is affecting the overall output, explained the source adding that PHE and Irrigation department which are main departments related to public have been hit most due to lack of staff.

Both in Kashmir and Jammu region, PHE department has been hit, particularly Jal Shakti which despite having abundant funds at disposal is not picking up pace of work as junior engineers are not available, he added. The sad scenario is at division and sub division levels where even Assistant engineers are not available and Executive Engineer has to perform additional duties on two posts.

Filling up of vacancies in all other departments is being done but this hits a roadblock as government finds discrepancies in every list that too when it gets approved as final. This phenomenon has acquired permanence in the UT for some time, which is good in terms of doing justice with genuine and deserving aspirants but this results in adding to the numbers of vacant posts.

That unemployment has been on rise contrary to claims of the government, the rate which was around 14 per cent last year has been shown as by the government at 18.3 percent this year.