Ziraat Times News Network
Srinagar: Students Council of SKUAST-Kashmir and SKUAST-Jammu have sought to bring the attention of Jammu and Kashmir administration to address their ‘job related concerns’. In a statement addressed to the administration the students have sought amendments in recent job rules in the Agriculture Production Department.
Ziraat Times here reproduces the statement received from the councils in an unedited manner. This statement is published here with a principle of giving all sides to the debate a fair chance to express their views, and this newspaper does not necessarily subscribe to the contents of this letter:
- It is to bring in your cognisance that Govt. of Jammu & Kashmir has come up with new SRO-442 in Agriculture Production Department on 23rd of October 2017 wherein some deliberate draconian amendments have been done, the important one being in case of recruitment of JUNIOR AGRICULTURE EXTENSION OFFICER (JAEO). The SRO-442 mentions that these JAEO posts will be filled 100% on promotional basis contrary to the earlier SRO-02 Dated 2nd January 2004 wherein these posts were filled on 60:40 basis i.e. 60% by direct recruitment and 40% by promotional Quota. Hon’ble Sir, these posts (JAEOs) used to be entry level posts in APD and the Agriculture Technocrats are suffering from psychological trauma due to this amendment in the SRO. Also adding to this fact, it is unconstitutional to promote the VAEAs as JAEO’s as they just have a meagre service of 2 years. Further, more than 500 posts of JAEO are lying vacant in JKAPD, but due to SRO-442 these posts are not being referred for direct recruitment, thereby violating our fundamental right to equal opportunities.
- Same is the case with the entry level posts in gazzetted cadre wherein the ratio between direct and promotional quota was 50:50 under SRO-179 but again the government came with a new provision under SRO-433 in which the quota between direct and promotional quota was set as 20:80, thus further diminishing the chances of young professionals with Postgraduate and Doctoral degrees in the subject of agriculture. Furthermore, It has been more than a decade that not a single post of Agriculture Extension Officer has been referred by Agriculture Production Department under direct recruitment quota whereas these posts are only being filled on promotion basis, although the posts under direct recruitment quota are lying vacant in the department in hundreds.
- The Jammu and Kashmir Agriculture Production Department in its proposal “Cadre Review- Reorganization thereof” vide order no. Agri/DAJ/Estt-162/2019-20/2137, Dated 29/06/2019, proposed the merger of two entry level posts at non-gazetted cadre viz., JAEO & AEA which seemed as a welcome step for the benefit of young unemployed agriculture professionals. But now the department is considering the promotion of AEAs to JAEOs as per SRO-442 which is a draconian andcompletely unconstitutional policy proposed by Jammu and Kashmir Government on 23rd October 2017. Such policies should not be considered valid in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as these stand as big barriers for the Agriculture professionals with Postgraduate degrees forcing them into a state of depression due to lack of opportunities.
- Further the worthy Director APD (Kashmir Division) in conversation with the Desk Editor (All India Radio, Srinagar) through “Sheherbeen” had assured that by the end of year 2019, more than 400 posts for agriculture degree holders shall be referred to the recruiting agencies but unfortunately not a single post has been advertised yet and thereby contradicting with his own statement.
- Thousands of Agriculture Professionals pass out from various State Agriculture Universities every year, but surprisingly the JKAPD offers nothing to the professional thus boosting the already large scale unemployment in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. We request Hon’ble Lt. Governor to please look into our grievances. We also seek clarification from Secretary JKAPD regarding the policies for the students of agriculture. If the department cannot provide opportunities to the students of Agriculture, what is the fun of offering the courses of the subject matter in the well-established universities of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
So, we request your humble self with folded hands to look into the matters cited above and balance the ratios of direct and promotional quota in such a way that will benefit the young agriculture professionals in a long run. Furthermore, we request your good self to amend the draconian SRO-442 and SRO-433.
Thanking you in good anticipation.
Yours faithfully
President
Students Council
SKUAST-K