Questions raised as J&K Bank conducts BA exams amid snowstorm

5 January 2021

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Srinagar: As Jammu & Kashmir Bank proceeded with Banking Associates examination during the ongoing snowstorm, questions are being raised about the aspirants who have been unable to travel and take the examination or those who were unable to reach in time.

Several civil society groups have expressed their resentment for the bank’s insensitivity in putting hundreds of aspiring candidates from Kashmir region into a disadvantage with its decision of proceeding with the examination process.

“There was a credible early warning about the weather. It was well known that a big snow was coming. Almost all higher education examinations were postponed in Kashmir and the winter zones of Jammu. So the question is why did the J&K Bank proceed with the exam when several parts of Kashmir region are logistically cut off with three to four feet of snow?”, said Intikhab Alam, a civil society leader from Anantnag.

Observers have also expressed concern that this insensitivity to the snowstorm situation could put to disadvantage a large number of aspiring students.

“Power, and even Internet, have been shut in many areas for the last few days in Kashmir. Public transport was largely off due to heavy snow in many other parts of J&K. Under these circumstances, how could these aspiring students, especially females, be in a competing position?”, Mehnaz Akhtar, one of the applicants from Budgam told Ziraat Times.

Meanwhile, several aspirants for the Banking Associates posts, who could not make it to the examinations centres due to heavy snowfall on Tuesday, have demanded re-examinations.

Candidates also lamented that while the train services remain suspended across Kashmir, private or public transportation was hard to manage for particularly women candidates.

“We managed to reach the exam venue but only after wetting ourselves and walking in snow for three kilometers”, said Bushra, another candidate from Pulwama.

“Despite our best efforts, we could not reach the venue of examinations,” said aspirants from Ganderbal who had to appear at a centre in Hyderpora Srinagar.

“We had our one vehicle but could not reach even midway. Ultimately we had to turn back,” they said, adding “One can imagine the plight of those who had to rely on public transport.”

The bank authorities are said to have given half an hour more time for late arrivals to exam venues.

“When somebody cannot move, giving half an hour for arrival is meaningless,” said a group of aspirants from Ganderbal.

They urged the bank authorities to conduct the reexamination for all the candidates who missed the paper.

“We should not be excluded with no fault on our part”, they said.

A number of candidates from other districts of Kashmir Valley told GNS that “when Kashmir University, CUK, J&K Board can postpone examinations why cannot J&K Bank.”

Meanwhile, some candidates who are scheduled to appear in examinations later this month have urged J&K Bank authorities to change their examination centre and keep the same in their respective district headquarters.

“I have to appear in Sopore while I am a resident of Srinagar. it is difficult for me to reach the centre early morning. The authorities are requested to change the venue and conduct it in district headquarters for all the aspirants” said one aspirant.

With inputs from GNS