| Omar proved an incapable Home Minister | | In 6 years, failed to regularize SPO who brought laurels to JK | |  GS Asgotra
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 14: Omar Abdullah who also held the portfolio of Home Minister failed as in the last six years, his department could not regularize a Special Police Officer (SPO) of Jammu and Kashmir Police, who was once awarded by Chief Minister himself for winning gold medal in J&K State Open Athletic Championship.
The tragedy of Ramraj, who has brought dozens of medals, citations and laurels for Jammu and Kashmir, is that in the last six years, his file for regularization of services has been forwarded to Police Headquarters Jammu thrice in 2007, 2010 and 2012 but the files have lost and Ramraj is still working as SPO, despite completion of 15 years of service in the department.
Deprived from all the facilities being a sportsman, Ramraj informed Early Times, "Unambiguous order of Home department, Home/PB-III/62/G/2008 dated 25/9/2009, is recommending regularization of SPO's and Volunteer Home Guards (VHGs) having won any medal in state or in a national level event.
The clause II of the order read as, "Appointment of SPOs (with minimum three years of engagement) of 15 percent available vacancies, as constable or followers who have excelled in sports and won first, second and third position in individual capacity or as part of a team at the state or national level."
With one gold and a bronze medal in J&K State Open Athletic Championship, numerous participation certificates of national championships, Ramraj is still getting Rs. 3000 after working for the last 15 years and is yet to be regularized.
Despite recommendation letters sent to the Home department by three previous IGPs, Jammu zone in 2007, 2010 and 2012 for regularising Ramraj as constable in the force his application remains unattended on the table of some officer and has been gathering dust in the Home department.
Before his last event in Aquatic Meet and Cross Country Race Championship, held in Guwahati in March 2013, Ramraj participated seven times in the National athlete meet, had bagged gold medal and bronze medal in two different categories in J&K Open Athletic Championship besides several other medals in other championships.
Ramraj regrets to note that a few years back, the Police Headquarters had promoted another constable Tahir Ahmed of Armed Police as Selection Grade, for winning the gold Medal during 2008, but department has not regularized him.
"Despite winning one gold and bronze medal in state level event, the department has not regularized me", rued Ramraj, adding, "In merely Rs. 3,000 it is impossible to earn bread and butter for six member family, including old age parents and a mentally challenged brother."
"This summer, I took leave for five days to harvest wheat crop with my family members as labourers in the agricultural farms of other person to arrange ration for coming months," he stated and added that he spends Rs. 50 for travelling from his village to work in Jammu, leaving him little over Rs. 1500 a month, less than half that a daily wager might earn.
Ramraj further said that he could win medals in the national games also if proper salary and time were given to him. "Now I am 38 years old, but I am sure that if proper diet and financial security is provided to me, I can certainly do very well in any competition and bring good name to the state," he said, exuding confidence.
Recalling his life before joining Jammu and Kashmir Police as SPO, Ramraj said that he was a Home Guard volunteer in police for six years. "I had opted to become SPO, presuming to be regularized but despite being patted by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for my feat everything has come to nothing."
On a sad note, the story of Ramraj is not an isolated case; there are several other sportsmen getting raw deal after investing their golden years in sports. However, this is not a consolation to Ramraj who continues to be treated unfairly despite several representations. |
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