Srinagar, Dec 23: The state government has come under sharp criticism for its decision to go ahead with implementing the new job policy under which new recruits for non-gazetted posts shall be paid stipend for the first five years of their service.
 Kashmir youth who lack employment opportunities due to least developed private sector are furious over the move.
 “This job policy is totally authoritarian, exploitative and unjustified,” said Zakir Lone a postgraduate student. “They are reducing us to beggars. This policy violates the fundamental right of equal work-equal pay. The youth will lose faith in the government,” he said.   
 The decision of the government to implement the new job policy comes at a time when the number of unemployed youth in the state has swelled up to six lakh.
 Terming the government decision as “exploitation” of youth, Junaid Mushtaq, a B-tech student said, “Under the policy they (government) want us to work with dedication but in return we will be paid peanuts.”
 Junaid said it is the “criminal policy” of the government to discourage the youth towards government sector. “Government has failed to fully develop the private sector in the state and now it is closing doors for us in the public sector as well,” he said.
 Experts term the new job policy as a move by the government to absorb more and more youth in the government sector without much pressure on the state finances. “Now they can absorb at least three youth on the salary of a single employee,” said an expert.
 The government has already made it clear that fresh recruitment to non-gazetted posts would be made under the new policy approved by the state cabinet in 2011.
 The policy had landed in judicial tangle after it was challenged by some aggrieved educated youth in both the wings of the state High Court in Jammu and Srinagar.
 However, the Court later cleared the scheme for implementation providing relief to the state government. 
 As per the new policy any person appointed to the non-gazetted posts shall be paid fixed monthly salary equivalent to 50 percent of the basic pay (Pay Band+Grade Pay) for the first 2 years at the minimum of the Pay Band.
 For the next 3 years or during the remaining period out of total five years (if the period of probation has been extended) such an employee would be entitled to receive fixed salary of about 75 percent of the basic pay (PB+GP) at minimum of the Pay Band, officials said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 23 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 24 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST