Confederation raises issues of age relaxation for SC/ST/OBC: Privatisation of public assets

Jammu, 7.05.22: All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations J&K organised a press conference today at their head office in Jammu. The agenda of the conference was to show dissent towards the recent age concession given by the JKPSC for the SC/ST/OBC candidates and the issues surrounding privatisation of the public assets.

Dr OM Sudha, National General Secretary, All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations, who has come here in Jammu on a tour apprised the media and the masses about the effects of privatisation which Modi Sarkar has brought up. He also reminded the media about the promised made by PM Modi in 2014 in election campaign held in Jammu of toto implementation of Mandal Commission Report. But it has merely become another Jumla “ Modi sahib ne kaha tha hum Mandal Commission J&K main lagu krege” which they have not implemented yet.

Moreover, the privatisation is going to harm the reserved categories as well as the general category. There is already a pending backlog of 1.04 lakh of SC/ST/OBC youth of J&K. On top of that the unemployment rates are also high. Reservation is promotions are not being restored. All this will add up to create more problems for the common people.

There were about 348 CPSUs in existence in 2018, with a total investment of ₹16.4 trillion and about 10.3 lakh employees in Central Public Sector Enterprises (in 2019). Push for massive privatization resulting in mass layoffs in a period of low job creation. A greater concentration of public assets in select private hands is also a medium-term concern. About 70% of all profits generated in the corporate sector in FY20 were with just 20 firms. Since the SC/ST/OBC communities are not part of these big firms, they rely on seeking employment, which will get disturbed by privatisation. Such concentration, mixed with the privatization of public assets, is likely to lead to higher usage fees (already being seen in telecom) and inflation, coupled with a loss of strategic control.

Similarly, with the National Education policy set in place, the education will also get privatised. This will lead to more expensive fees for colleges and schools and less avenues for the reserved categories and the economically weaker sections.

RK Kalsotra, State president confederations, said that JKPSC has reduced age criteria for KAS exams from 37 years to 34 years for reserved categories. Even UPSC upepr age limit is 37 years for SC/ST candidate. It is also mentioned that criteria and dopt rule of minimum 5 year age relaxation to SC ST candidates is not being followed in UT J&K . It’s also mentioned that further 5 yr relaxation for SC ST physically handicapped students is the policy, as per dopt rules which is not followed in J&K.

Before the abrogation of article 370, SC/ST had an age relaxation of and the criteria was till 37 years similar to UPSC. But after abrogation it has been reduced to 34 years whereas some states have relaxation till 42 years.

Moreover, from the period 2014-2022 ,JKPSC has successfully conducted & completed only three examinations. In a period of 8 years only four(4) examinations have been conducted ,out of which the process of only three(3) has been completed, unlike the UPSC where the exams are conducted every year.

Kalsotra also highlighted that the confederation had previously raised the issue of age relaxation with the honourable LG ash Manoj Sinha in a letter dated 22nd Oct, 2021, ref number AICSCT/27 as the JKSSB had cut down the age relaxation provisions for reserved categories.

Hence, it was demanded that the administration should immediately restore the age relaxation provisions at par with the national level and then only conduct the exams.

Others who were present for the press conference included Sham Bassan Jt Secy, Madan Lal Heer State Coordinator & Ashu Peter Mattoo State President , All J&K Christian Sabha