3,223 agricultural graduates engaged as Rehbar-i-Zirat in J&K

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) Under the Rehbar-i-Zirat scheme, Jammu and Kashmir government has appointed 3,223 unemployed agriculture graduates in the state this year.

Minister for Agriculture Abdul Aziz Zargar said that in order to help alleviate the frustration expressed by unemployed agriculture graduates, the Rehbar-i-Zirat Scheme was launched in the state in February this year and became operative from April 2007. All the unemployed agricultural graduates have been engaged at a monthly stipend of Rs 1,500 per month on the terms and conditions that all the unemployed agriculture graduates will register themselves with the Chief Agriculture Officers of the concerned district.

The candidates are required to execute an agreement with Chief Agriculture Officer stating that they are not already performing any services whether on contract basis or adhoc and this engagement shall not confer any right to claim a regular appointment.

Replying to a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) by Mir Saifullah regarding the suffering of agriculture graduates, the Minister said 3,223 unemployed agriculture graduates were engaged in the Agriculture Department under the Rehbar-i-Zirat Scheme.

He said that an amount of Rs 5.45 crore have been worked out on account of stipend to be paid to them and the proposal for release of funds for this purpose has been sent to the Financial Commissioner, Planning and Development Department.

He said this engagement does not confer any right to claim for regular appointment or confirmation and preparation of service books which can be done in case of appointments made on regular basis only.

UNI