Srinagar: About three lakh people living along the International Border (IB) with Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir's three districts — Jammu, Samba and Kathua — will get the benefits of reservation in government jobs and admissions in professional institutions until now enjoyed only by backward classes.
The State administrative council (SAC) which met in winter capital Jammu under the chairmanship of governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday approved the draft amendments in the “Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act — 2014” for extending the benefits of reservation to the border dwellers of over 350 villages.
“The amendment shall meet the long-standing demand of the people residing in the areas adjoining the International Border for their overall socio-economic and educational development,” an official spokesman said.
He added that the said demand was examined in consultation with J&K State Commission for Backward Classes (SCBC) and "it was felt that persons residing in the areas adjoining IB are similarly situated as the persons residing in the areas adjoining Line of Actual Control (LAC), so far as their socio-economic backwardness is concerned and thereby qualify for inclusion within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining the LAC".
However, as per the recommendations of the SCBC, the areas falling within six kilometres from the IB shall be covered within the meaning of reservation. The list of such villages will be notified while framing rules once the ordinance is promulgated.
As per the existing reservation rules, three percent reservation is admissible to people residing on the Line of Control (LoC) in direct recruitment. Reservation of three percent is also available to the people residing on LAC with China in professional institutions.
With this amendment, LAC and IB will be considered as one category for purposes of seeking reservation in direct recruitment and in promotions. "This will benefit a large number of people residing in the areas adjoining the IB to reap the benefits of reservation like other categories," the spokesman said adding that following the approval of the proposal by SAC, the State's Social Welfare Department will process the draft amendment for further consideration of the Ministry of Home Affairs for promulgation of the ordinance by the competent authority.
