news details |
|
|
| In JK, bureaucrats feel at home even after retirement | | | Majid Ahmad
Srinagar, Sept 1: At a time when getting a job for educated unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir has become a Herculean task, dozens of bureaucrats and senior officials who have retired from their service in recent years, have been reemployed by the state government.
Sources told Early Times that post retirement jobs are free for those bureaucrats and senior officials who have right connections in the state's power and political corridors. From the rank of Chief Secretary to Commissioner Secretaries, Directors, Chief Engineers and lower rung officials, dozens of such post retirement jobs have been offered.
"Several of these highly placed bureaucrats and officials not only manage re-entry in the government post-retirement, they hang on to the chairs by ensuring repeated extensions in their services," they added.
Statistics reveals that over 150 retired employees were re-employed at different places, some of them at higher positions, after National Conference-Congress coalition took the reins of the state in 2009. "Of them 43 persons have been re-employed as Consultants, Advisors and Chairmen during the past four years," sources said.
Under pressure the State cabinet on April 24 this year imposed a blanket ban on re-employment. However the order has already seen number of violation in these months.
Here are a few examples: Former Chief Secretary of the state SS Kapur, a 1974 IAS officer is enjoying post retirement job as Chairpersons State Water Resources Regulatory Authority (SWRRA) since October 2012. Kapur who retired in 2011, is considered to be close to ruling National Conference (NC).
"The 3-member SWRRA body which regulates issues regarding water charges from the hydropower institutions for exploiting the state's water resources has become a rehabilitation centre for favourites," sources said.
Another SWRRA member, Vijay Abrol would complete four years of post-retirement government assignment in October after he relinquished office as Chief Engineer PHE in 2009. He was re-employed as Consultant PHE/Irrigation and Flood Control Department in February 2010 for next two years. He is now member of the SWRRA.
Abdu Rashid Tak, another member of SWWRA, retired as Executive Director, State Power Development Corporation in November 2008. He was later absorbed as Advisor cum Consultant in J&K State Power Development Corporation from June 2009 till his appointment as SWRRA member.
Recently State Cabinet approved appointment of Basharat Dhar as Chairman State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC). Dhar, a former divisional commissioner, was serving two year extension in his service as Managing Director, Power Development Corporation (PDC) and would complete the term in coming December.
The other two members of the SERC, Devinder Singh Pawar and Ghulam Muhammad Khan are also retired government employees. The Commission regulates power tariff in the state.
SC Sawhney who retired as Director Technical Education J&K, is now the head of the Rs 1600 crore centrally sponsored scheme SSA in the state. The post was previously held by an IAS officer.
Muhammad Anees who happens to be spouse of a senior NC leader and MLA was given one year extension as Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Kashmir after he attained superannuation on April 30 this year.
Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with unemployment problem with number of educated jobless youth having gone beyond six lakh figures.
While thousands of Special Police Officers (SPOs) and other daily wagers have been getting a small amount in the name of salaries, according to sources, government has to pay crores of rupees to these re-employed officers in the name of fixed salary. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
