Reservation for SC, ST increased in J

Srinagar, Sep 3 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir government has enhanced reservation quota in promotions for Scheduled Casts (ST) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) besides taking various steps for their overall development.

A spokesman for the Social Welfare department here today said the government has taken various steps to improve the quality of life of Gujjars and the Tribal community.

In this regard, a separate directorate of Tribal Affairs has been created to exclusively deal with the issues relating to tribal people.

The Directorate is manned by a full-time director, who also belongs to the Tribal community, he said.

Elaborating further, the spokesman said SRO 294 has been amended as a result of which, reservation in promotions has been enhanced from 4 per cent to 8 per cent in case of SC and 5 per cent to 10 per cent in respect of ST where the direct recruitment quota is 25 per cent or less.

He said likewise, where the direct recruitment quota is more than 25 per cent, the reservation for SC has been put at 4 per cent and for ST 5 per cent.

In case the number of candidates belonging to a reserved category falls short of posts reserved for it, the remaining vacancies have to be treated as backlog.

The Social Caste certificates are being issued by the Deputy Commissioners concerned.

The Spokesman further elaborated that the ST have been provided 10 per cent reservation in direct recruitment in proportion to their population as per 2001 census while SC have been provided 8 per cent reservation in direct recruitment in proportion to their population as per the 2001 census.

In addition, the State Advisory Board for Development of Gujjars and Bakerwals also brings the issues relating to this community to the notice of the government besides managing hostels, specifically meant for the tribal students.

UNI BAS RL ND1250