Srinagar, Aug 26: Despite approval by the State Cabinet nearly two years ago, the process of recruitment of 43000 casual and seasonal labourers is yet to see light of the day.
 On October 14, 2010, the State Cabinet had approved the proposal for engaging 43000 persons as casual and seasonal labourers in various departments. While, 41000 daily-wagers were to be appointed in the Valley and Jammu, 2000 recruitments were to be made in Kargil and Leh districts.
 As already reported, the proposal was mooted by the Planning & Development Department after assessing the need of manpower shortage in different departments. According to the proposal, 10000 appointments each were to be made in Power Development Department and Public Health Engineering/Irrigation/ Flood Control Departments and 8000 persons were to be appointed in Rural Development Department. About 12000 persons were to be appointed in Roads & Buildings Department and School Education Department and 2000 and 1000 were to be recruited respectively in Floriculture and Forest Departments.
 Following the cabinet nod, the Planning & Development Department issued the order No: 105-PD of 2010 dated 25-10-2010, with regard to engagements.
 While the State Government maintained silence over these recruitments for 17 months, the issue was raised on March 14 this year by Panthers Party MLA Harshdev Singh in the Assembly. The Government then responded by saying that the operational modalities for these engagements were being worked out.
 But the officials of the rank of Commissioner Secretaries of several departments asserted that no direction has been passed to them to frame the operational modalities or guidelines on the subject.
 “There has been neither any such instruction nor any communication to us over the subject since October 2010,”they said, adding that General Administration Department (GAD) usually makes rules for recruitments.
 An official in the state administration said that the rules and modalities for the said purpose could have been framed in days not months, but there seems something more in indecision of the government over the appointments.
 “There is no justification over keeping the appointments on hold as the key infrastructure departments like PHE/ Irrigation & Flood Control, R&B and others are suffering due to shortage of staff. The proposal for these appointments was made keeping in view the shortage of staff in these Departments,” he said.
 When contacted, Minister for Labour and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik parroted the reply given by him in State Assembly earlier this year.
 “The procedure for such appointments is being worked out,” he said.
 While Finance Minister, Abdur Rahim Rather, did not pick up the phone, his junior, Manohar Lal Sharma, said the recruitment program is awaiting final nod from the government.
 “The Planning Department had identified these posts and subsequently segregated them by district and department-wise, but the recruitment has not begun yet owing to the financial implications and other things,” he said.
 Commissioner Secretary, GAD, Sheikh Mushtaq did not pick up the phone despite repeated attempts.
 If sources are to be believed, the government is toying with two options over making these appointments: either shelving the program for good or starting the recruitment juste before the Assembly polls.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 26 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST