ENHANCEMENT OF THE RETIREMENT AGE WILL ONLY ADD TO THE ALIENATION AND FRUSTRATION OF THE EDUCATED YOUTH OF OUR STATE
Muzaffar Ahmad

Enhancement of the retirement age, bringing it at par with that of central government, was a key demand of Jammu and Kashmir government employees last year when this whole army of over five lakh personnel resorted to frequent strikes and demonstrations to press for their demands. To look into the issue government constituted a committee headed by present Chief Secretery Mr Madhav Lal, which as per media reports has recommended the enhancement of retirement age from 58 to 60 years arguing that 'the enhancement of the age of the employees will be in the interests of the government as a number of government employees retiring every year was having direct implications on the developmental schemes, mostly flagship programmes of the central government', (GK,march 10) suggesting thereby that a government employee should not retire till death. Reading between the lines the argument suggests that in the whole lot of present qualified and unemployed youth, there is no one to handle the job of a government official in an efficient manner. In other words the recommendation argues that there is none amongst these qualified youth who is capable to be entrusted with the task of a clerk or a bureaucrat and it is only the present lot of employees who are efficient and intelligent enough to do the job. Enhancement of the retirement age is the key unmet demand of the government employees though their various other demands have already been met. In view of the present recommendations, it seems that the employees are going to have this one also met.
Jammu and Kashmir government in its current budget session of the assembly accepted on the floor of the House that in J&K the unemployment figure has crossed six lakh mark. Though the figure is only of those who stand registered with the state employment department. The fact is that there are many more, perhaps also in lakhs and mostly higher qualified, who do not deem it necessary to register themselves with the government, considering it a futile exercise. The thing which needs an important consideration here is that, it is not the question of only six lakh people being jobless in our state but six lakh families who are currently feeling the heat of joblessness of their educated sons and daughters. The gravity of this scenario can be gauged by the fact that M.Phil and PhD scholars are applying for the class iv vacancies.
The present move of the government if it gets a cabinet nod will mean that an educated unemployed youth close to crossing his upper age limit will have to wait not only for two but many more years as who knows when the posts will be referred to the recruiting agencies and get filled up after the present lot of employees retires. And in the meantime our unemployed and qualified youth will have to either commit suicide or become drug addicts. Enhancement of the retirement age will only add to the alienation and frustration of the educated youth of our state. The present political dispensation headed by a young chief minister should think not only twice but thrice before a go ahead signal to this proposal is granted.
Our employees also need to be cautious of those elements in their ranks having vested interests who moot such ideas and thereby accrue undue benefits out of such exercises using a lower rung employee as a tool in their hands. Out of this whole process, the benefits will accrue to only a handful of bureaucrats and the lower rung employees in general will not be benefitted too much.
Author works as Casual News Editor at Radio Kashmir, Srinagar.
Feedback: itoomuzafar@gmail.com

IT'S A MISTAKE TO ENHANCE THE RETIREMENT AGE
Er. Syed Parvez Safvi

Right from the day Employees Joint Action Committee ( EJAC ), in 2008-09, started the agitation against the Government for enhancement of retirement of age from 58 to 60 , I opposed this demand as President Of Self Help Group of Un-Employed Engineers Association in a Press Conference held at Hotel Taj, Srinagar. We the un-employed engineers warned the Government that time if the Government took a decision in this favour we will launch a massive agitation on the roads along with other un-employed professionals of the State and the decision in this regard was deferred at that time till the Committee appointed by the Government would submit its report to the Government. Now it has been given to understand that the Committee has submitted its report to the Government and has advocated for the enhancement of retirement age; obviously the members in the Committee are employee so they will definitely favour Govt. employees.
I failed to understand that on what grounds they have advised for enhancement of retirement of age. On the one side Govt. says that un-employment is a big threat than terrorism to our State. They have also implemented new recruitment policy in the State because of the non-availability of funds, as the salary expenditure is getting day by day very high, our un-employment growth touches to near about 7 lacs. On the other hand why the Govt. is in favour of enhancing the retirement age. If the Govt. takes this decision that will be a huge mistake.
Author is President, Self Help Group Of Engineers Association.
Feedback: parvezsafvi@gmail.com

ENHANCEMENT OF RETIREMENT AGE WILL ONLY COME AT THE COST OF THE FUTURE OF THE YOUTH.
Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Baqal

Old fashioned engineer or a doctor has no relevance in the present scenario of technology. Even a simple computer cannot be operated by an employee having 30-35 years of service with only Matriculation as academic qualification. Talking of administrative staff like Junior Assistant, Senior Assistant, SO’s, Patwaries  etc. more than 90 percent are not suited for the times. With regard to government teachers their experience and potential can well be gauged in reference to 10th and 12th class results recently declared by the J&K BOSE. The role of government institutions is visible by the results they show. The government spends crores on them but to what end. We should be thankful to private sector, whether educational or industrial sector who give good revenue to the state and produces good results. As far old employees of are concerned the mismatch between their talent and present condition of working can be seen from the fact that all the assets have been destroyed. Continuing old and outdated product can badly affect development of the state.
Enhancement of retirement age will only come at the cost of the future of the youth. 
  
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Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST