Kalsotra calls on CS, discusses SC/ST/OBC grievances, demands Padma Shree for Shaheed Rajni Bala

'Kalsotra calls on CS, discusses SC/ST/OBC grievances, demands Padma Shree for Shaheed Rajni Bala'

RK Kalsotra, State President, All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations met Chief Secretary, Mr Arun Mehta to discuss the grievances of SC/ST/OBC, today at his office. 

The agenda of the meeting was to discuss the proposal of Padma Shree Award and compensation for Teacher Rajni Bala, who got martyred in a terrorist attack in Kashmir. The transfer policy for inter-district employees as desired by them as they are on a continuous dharna since 1st June. This was previously discussed on 31st May 2022 with Chief Secretary. 

Provisions of implementation of Reservation in promotions for SC/ST/OBC was also previously discussed  on 1st March, 2022, in which he assured that the proposal will be looked into and a meeting was also organised but unfortunately was deferred. Kalsotra requested that this should be prioritised again immediately. 

He put another demand of fulfilling of backlog for SC/ST/OBCs and re-advertisement of the backlog posts withdrawn by the government in PSC, SSRB, And also the backlog in SKUAST, J&K. 

The SC/ST Atrocities Act is also not being implemented and he quoted a recent case of 2nd August in which caste atrocities occurred on IAS, IPS, KAS officers in Rajouri. Similar was intimated to the CS. There is also no legal assistance for the victims and thus, there should be such provisions for SC/ST/OBC victims. Even in majority of cases the culprits aren’t being booked under the act as was the case in Magobali, RS pura and Murare Chak, Bishnah, which is being looked by SP Border Jammu. There is a delay on booking the reports as well. Kalsotra requested a training program for police force so that they know how to report under SC/ST act. There should also be a special dedicated Thana or a unit to look over such cases. 

There is 5 year relaxation in age for SC/ST, but here it is 3 years for SC/ST and hence it should be 5 at par with the central rules. Mandal commission report hasn’t been implemented in toto which enshrines 27% reservation for OBCs. In J&K it is 4% and should be at par with central norms. 

Kalsotra also demanded provisions for SC/BC entrepreneurship, scholarships, skill development as being run by the Tribal Ministry. These initiatives are a marker of success and similar initiatives should be given to SC/BC candidates for their social upliftment. 

Govt SC/BC corporation of J&K is defunct and even employees are not getting enough salary. The loans given have strict provisions of guarantees which are not being fulfilled by the SC/BC/Minorities candidates and they cannot get loans. The government should come in and take the finance lead in giving guarantees so that loans can be given to candidates, and guarantees should be waived off. 

The ACB has filed FIR against many officials but there are not chargesheets and the cases are lingered on. Few of them who are convicted and proven to have served their time, they are being denied their promotions and benefits as the cases are not getting cleared. 

Kalsotra, lastly, demanded for a quarterly meeting of All India Confederation with the Government and its bodies to discuss the grievances of SC/ST/OBCs and bridge the gap between government and the people. 

Kalsotra hoped from the meeting that these will be addressed at the earliest. Honourable CS gave his valuable time and Kalsotra expressed his gratitude for the same. He also assured that these demands will be taken seriously.