Exchequer goes dry for unemployed but Legislators' get sumptuous hike
According to official sources, over four lakh educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir are unemployed and have registered themselves with various counselling centres in the state.
THE JAMMU and Kashmir state presently said to be passing through financial problems for addressing long pending demands of the different protesting unemployed and employees associations, however, has liberally opened the coffers for the legislators offering a good deal of enhancement in their emoluments. According to official sources, over four lakh educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir are unemployed and have registered themselves with various counselling centres in the state. It needs to mention that state government is facing protests from daily wagers to unemployed technocrats and from fourth class employees to pensioners demanding their regularization, implementation of 6th pay commission and removal of pay anomalies etc. Reflecting his resentment president, Contractual Lecturers Association Suresh Sadotra said, “State Government has done nothing with respect to contractual lecturers working in colleges inspite of repeated assurances from Chief Minister and Education Minister but same govt has given its nod to enhance the salary of MLAs and MLCs. He, however, warned to intensify agitation no immediate decision is taken by the concerned authorities. Home Guards working for barely Rs 450 have already on dharna since long demanding regualrisation of their services. Kamala Sharma, President of the All J&K Home Guard Welfare Association appealed the MLAs to raise their demands in the Assembly but she is in dilemma if they are going to raise their voice or thump table in favour of their salary hike. In recent past, some organisations of employees had gone on strike demanding full implementation of Sixth Pay Commission report. Besides these other organizations be it representing Refugees, Jammu Migrants, pensioners, unemployed ITI trained youth, Agriculture technocrats or others, were demanding their dues on priority but the government has only one brief reply to at bulls eye i.e. the shortage of funds otherwise their demands will be conceded. But when it comes to the increase of salaries of legislators and council of ministers there seems no shortage of funds in govt treasury. Moreover, government to curb the dissidence within the coalition partners has recently appointed Vice Chairmen of different Boards with the status of Minister of State which too is considered as additional burden on the state exchequer. As per the revised salary approved in recent cabinet meet, after the passage of the Bill, the Chief Minister will get Rs 75,000 per month (inclusive of all allowances), a Cabinet minister will get Rs 65,000, a Minister of State Rs 63,000 and an MLA will get Rs 60,000. At present Ministers are getting Rs 45000 and legislators Rs 40,000 per month. This will be the third pay revision for ministers and MLAs since 1996 in Jammu and Kashmir, which is considered as a ‘funds-starved’ state. The state Cabinet has also proposed hike in the pension of former legislators from existing Rs 12,000 (including all allowances) to Rs 18,000 per month. It to mention that there are 4,66,770 educated unemployed youth registered with various District Employment and Counselling Centres (DECC) in the state.
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