It is quite amazing and shocking to learn that the very makers or designers of computers have no significance in the 21st century in Jammu and Kashmir, although the state government has created the Department of Information Technology to carry out different activities pertaining to computers and information technology. The purpose of creation of this department was to make people aware about computers, deliver information to masses of remote areas, train officials of different departments and recruit the computer professionals, engineers and instructors. But something different is happening in the state, which has frustrated the computer engineers.
The fact is that the Government of Jammu and Kashmir started the Computer Engineering course in the end years of ‘90s, the selection for admission to which was made on the basis of Common Entrance Test (CET) conducted by the J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE)—previously known as the Competent Authority Entrance Examination (CAEE). The prescribed qualification for CET for all these professional/technical and medical courses was fixed as Higher Secondary Part Two (10+2). Till 2005, all the candidates undergoing such courses except Diploma Course in Computer Engineering were awarded Bachelor Degrees as the admission to these courses was made on the basis of 10+2. The candidates who pursued the course of Diploma in Computer Engineering on the basis of same qualification (10+2) were deprived of this privilege to consider themselves as equivalent to graduates which is sheer discrimination. They should have been considered equivalent to B.Sc (Engg) on the pattern of 10+2+3 system as is the case in other states of India.
But in 2006, the course of Three Years Diploma in Computer Engineering was separated from the class of its sister courses and its qualification for admission was prescribed as matriculation making its standard equivalent to other Diploma Engineering Courses done after matriculation. This means after 2005 all the Diploma Engineering Courses do stand in one and the same line. Since this course is run almost in all the polytechnics of the state where hundreds of Diploma Holders have completed it, there is no optimism of job for them in the state. As per estimates, presently, there are thousands of Computer Engineers who are jobless and every year the graph is increasing. It creates anguish, pain and frenzy in the hearts of Computer Engineers. For the last one decade, the Government of J&K has not framed any policy to advertise the posts for these youth. The government is totally unaware and watching the issue like a mute spectator instead of addressing it. It is indifferent towards the hardships and predicaments of Computer Engineers.
Since the government has created and advertised a good number of posts of engineers like Civil (PWD/PHE), Electrical/Electronics (PDD) and Mechanical (MED) in the last 10to 12 years, there is no share and scope of such posts for Computer Engineers which is injustice.
Recently, in December 2010 the J&K Services Selection Board (SSRB) has advertised thousands of posts for various departments and particularly in reference to Advt. Notice No. 08 of 2010 dated 24-12-10, 400 posts of Junior Engineers (Civil) were advertised. Also, it has been learnt that in near future the posts of Junior Engineers (Electrical/Electronics) and Junior Engineers (Mechanical) are going to be advertised by the SSRB but there is no such provision for Computer Engineers.
There are various problems which will arise out of such consequences if the state government will not consider the timely absorption of the computer engineers. For instance the Computer Engineers who have completed their Course for last many years are at the verge of crossing the age limit
for government service and will be barred forever to apply for any post and thus it is difficult for them to enjoy and live a social life and status as their counterparts do.
Moreover, they will not be able to earn their livelihood and meet daily requirements of life. Keeping this appalling story in consideration we urge the
Chief Minister, Ministers for Technical Education and Information Technology to intervene in the matter and it sort out.
(Feedback at rayazmalik_2008@rediffmail.com or samir_naz@rediffmal.com)

Lastupdate on : Tue, 25 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
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