Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference on Sunday said that the era post-2019 coincided with a steep decrease of locals in bureaucracy.
“The wanton discrimination meted out to locals has increased sense of alienation and disenfranchisement among all sections of society across Jammu and Kashmir,” a party spokesperson said.
“Expressing concern over the existential crises, the people of J&K are facing Party’s Additional General Secretary Dr Sheikh Mustafa Kamal said that the disbanding of the All India services JK cadre and the successive measures undertaken by GOI vis-à-vis J&K have unseated the local people from all corners of power giving a ditch to all democratic norms and the relation between J&k and New Delhi, which was contingent on a constitution that recognized the unique political identity of JK,” the spokesperson said.
“A systematic plan of downsizing local bureaucrats is being pursued. This explains the reason behind widespread alienation among people in Jammu and Kashmir. The widespread administrative inertia, and unaccountably that has beset the entire region reveals the shoddy failure of the administration to rise up to people’s aspirations and requirements. It is a rare sight to spot a Kashmiri in higher administrative posts. Similar is the case with the people from Pirpanjal and, Chenab regions,” the spokesperson quoted Mustafa Kamal as saying.
“With the Jammu and Kashmir cadre of all India services having ceased to exist, the doors of power have been permanently closed for locals in the bureaucratic setup. Previously only 50% of its all India service officers were direct recruits chosen through UPSC exams, the other half came from Kashmir Administrative services officers who were promoted into All India services. In other states only 67% of the officers are direct recruits. With the JK losing its status unconstitutionally, and undemocratically the ratio of locals in the bureaucracy has reduced to 33% from 50%,” Kamal said.
“In a highly sensitive region like JK, which has all long been on boil since 1947, it has always been necessary to have officials who can comport with the locals and understand their issues. Both the state and the central government in previous decades have strived to maintain the balance. The present government has chosen not to be sensitive to the issues of JK, pushing the locals to wall. The measure has affected the development activities as well. It is very imperative for the GOI to make amends to this rule and ensure 70% of the all India service officers in JK are locals. The measure will give a sense of entitlement to locals,” he said.
