Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 19: A decade has passed since the then National Conference led government engaged more than one thousand youth as National Youth Corps (NYCs) in Jammu and Kashmir, the youth were assured that they will be regularised soon. However, till date, their fate continues to remain in limbo.
As per the government sources, no concrete measures have been taken till date to regularize these youth with authorities citing major budget constraints in the entire process.
The NYC was launched by amalgamating the then existing two volunteer schemes National Service Volunteer (NSV) and Rashtriya Sadbhawana Yojana (RSY). What reveals the dilatory mode of functioning in the erstwhile J&K state is that on February 23, 2017, the NYC deputations met the then J&K chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, and apprised her about their plight. The then chief minister assured the aggrieved candidates that issue would be resolved ahead of the Budget session that was scheduled to be held April. However, the official wrangles played a spoilsport till the fall of the PDP-BJP government and subsequent imposition of Governor’s rule in Jammu and Kashmir in June 2018.
Interestingly, in September in 2015, NYC volunteers agitated against the past government by launching hunger strike in Srinagar, the then J&K Minister for Finance, Labour, Employment and Culture, Dr Haseeb A Drabu assured them that their issues will be addressed soon.
There are reports that the budget constraints are acting as a major hurdle in the process and there has been no decisiveness over it so far.
Pertinent to mention that the order issued during the last cabinet meeting held by Omar Abdulah led regime accorded conditional approval to the appointment of these NYCs in the government services. The order stated that the approval would be accorded subject to the clearance from the Finance and the Planning Departments. |
