Complete rout in recent parliamentary polls has compelled the coalition Government in Jammu & Kashmir to announce measures to regain public support. On Tuesday, the Cabinet decided to enhance the retirement age of Government employees by two years bringing them at par with the Central Government workers. The eligibility criteria for entry into Government services have also been altered. The job-seekers can aspire for Government employment up to 40 years in general category and 42 years, if reserved.
The sops have been welcomed by the Government employees but the coalition partners — the National Conference and the Congress — are separately taking credit for the ‘historic decision.
During the entire day, the NC and the Congress leadership were busy in staking claim for the credit. Chief Minister announced the decision much before the Cabinet meeting when he met with a group of trade union leaders.
Shortly after the Cabinet meeting, Congress leader and Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand called a Press conference and described the decision as brainchild of former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
JKPCC chief Saidfuddin Soz said that he was vocal votary of the enhancement of retirement age even at a time when Chief Minister Omar Abdullah opposed the proposals.
Three NC Ministers — Ali Muhammad Sagar, Abdur Rahim Rather and Chowdhary Ramzan also held a Press conference. “The State Cabinet has approved the long pending demand of employees and enhanced their retirement age from 58 to 60,” Tara Chand said.
The Cabinet also decided to withdraw cases against several employees under Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO). The Cabinet decision has come at a time when the coalition parties have deliberated on the causes of poll debacle in the State. “One of the reasons for the indifference of the people was that the Government did not pay heed to the genuine demands of Government employees,” Omar Abdullah admitted after the poll results.