Malicious intent of a section in J&K administration: Letters to the Editor

Malicious intent of a section in J&K administration

A deliberate attempt is being made to sabotage the poor Kashmiri Pandits (KP) in Jammu and Kashmir. It seems that some people in the administration are trying to deny what is rightfully due to the poor KPs, thereby undermining the Modi government's schemes/ initiatives and even Court's orders.

The case in point is the September 23, 2020 order of the Government of J&K, Department of Disaster, Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, Srinagar, Reference Administrative Council Decision No.130/20/2020 dated 23.09.2020. The order says that sanction has been granted to withdrawal of the 1997 unfulfilled encumbrance free posts from 18 departments, and seeks re-allocation of the posts. This order is unjustified and wrong as 45 candidates have already been selected through rightful criteria and process.

The reference itself is illegal and unjust for the reason that the process of recruiting the eligible candidates has long back been done. The selected list is with the government and the candidates are awaiting the appointment letters. For last 18 days selected Kashmiri Pandit candidates are on hunger strike near Press Club Jammu and the State administration is deliberately ignoring HC and SSRB recommendations.

This is part of the Special PM Employment package of the past Dr Manmohan Singh regime. Under this scheme, the recruitment process for 6,000 vacancies of J&K government has already been completed. The leftover candidates have even moved the High Court for a mandamus to the government for issuance of appointment letters pursuant to the selection by JKSSB. The matter was referred to CAT and is now pending final disposal in CAT. The Division Bench of HC has ruled that eligibility is the only criteria for such rehabilitation recruitment schemes. If the selected candidates have not been given the appointment letters, then what is the purpose of the fresh notification.

The current government order is, therefore, unjust, illegal and fraught with mischief to deprive employment to those already eligible and those who may or are likely to get overaged during the delay caused by the government by not issuing the appointment letters.

This mischief requires to be set right. All migrant and non-migrant Kashmiri Pandit youth are entitled/qualified for the recruitment. It seems to be a deliberate ploy by the J&K bureaucracy to deny employment to the eligible Kashmiri Pandit youths. We have, in the last seven decades, often raised our voice against the discrimination meted out to Kashmiri Pandits in the valley. Government jobs have always been denied to eligible candidates on one or the other pretext. And, the same seems to be happening now also.

Kashmiri Pandits relatively small numbers, coupled with a tradition of non-violent protest, has made them largely irrelevant in the political discourse – both within the country and internationally – on Kashmir. It should be clear, however, that the many 'peace processes' and 'political solutions' that are initiated in J&K from time to time have little meaning until these include some steps to correct the grave injustices done to this unfortunate community.

We urge honourable Governor Manoj Sinha to look into the matter and stop the deliberate, malicious intent of a section in the J&K administration.

Satish Mahaldar,

(mahaldar@suntelecomltd.com)

Government funding to NGOs should be stopped

It refers to surprise inspections conducted by students and alumnae of institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), Delhi University (DU) and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) on government-funded organizations that claimed to be working for public welfare have thrown up evidence of widespread and systemic abuse.

Earlier also Intelligence Bureau report indicated about misuse of Indian NGOs for anti-national agenda by foreign contributors where it was revealed that Indian GDP has been adversely affected to big extent of 2 to 3 per cent through such foreign-funded NGOs. Many NGOs are said to have been funded for cultural evasion in India. Foreign-funded NGOs spend in rupees and receive funds in dollars by sending these foreign contributors exaggerated photos and videos of events to get huge funding. Many NGOs are tools to divert foreign funds of individuals.

These NGOs pay lucrative salaries and perks to its officers who are either relation to power filled politicians and bureaucrats, or of persons running these NGOs. Buildings built on land allotted on concessional rates to NGOs should become government property because of large scale funding already done to these NGOs by the government. According to a study report, India has an NGO for every 400 citizens, where NGOs are mainly used as some business shops by those owning these. Any provision of tax exemption for donations made to NGOs should be abolished. However, in the meanwhile all NGOs should be under purview of Right To Information (RTI) Act and also of Lokpal.

Madhu Agrawal,

Delhi

Tally-ho

The good news in IPL concerning cricket lovers of the State has emerged with youngster Riyan Parag playing a pivotal and swashbuckling knock of 42 not out for his franchise Rajasthan Royals against Sunrisers Hyderabad. His knock emerged significance since his team was on a losing spree and also in that very match the situation was tight for his team. The crucial partnership he stitched with Rahul Tewatia in the hour of crisis was the turning point. Another sight which must have gladdened the heart of each Asomiya was the Bihu dance he performed on the crease after hitting the winning runs with a towering sixer. Now coming back to days before those magical moments it was seen that many former cricketers of the State along with some cricket pundits questioned his ability and literally wrote his future off. Thanks God that finally the boy from Guwahati has risen to the occasion and proved his critics wrong. It is a request to those critics not to jump the gun and let the young lad play freely, he is too young to be written off so early.

Tally-ho - Riyan Parag, expecting more fireworks from you.

Dr. Ashim Chowdhury,

Guwahati.

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