long wait for a domicile policy which has actually turned into an employment policy for the residents here may soon get over. The Government is said to have zeroed in on a probable cut-off date which is likely to be newer.
Sources in the Government hinted that the decision which is expected to be made public by the end of this year after wider consultation may take a liberal view while identifying Jharkhandis and non-Jharkhandis.
“The Public Employment (Requirement As To Residence) Act, 1957 talks about single domicile for the residents of the country. But States have powers to make arrangement giving preferences to its own citizens. The court has on previous occasion also taken stand keeping in mind time to time settlements taken place in the State. Though no consensus could be built as of now despite wider political consultations made, but it is not looking possible to stick to the 1932 land record like criteria,” said a senior official of the Personnel Department.
Indications coming in suggest that the Government would try to accommodate “all non-intended settlements” happened in the State ahead of its formation. “Those who have come to this part may have had choice but those who are born and brought up here had not. The Government is looking to come true on the aspirations of all such persons who took birth on this part of the land and have taken education from here,” added the official privy to the deliberations having taken place at the top level.
Also, the Government had invited suggestions from all the political parties on the complex issue. There are handfuls of parties, including Jharkhand Vikas Morcha and Congress that have batted in the favour of wider accommodation.
“We had clearly told in the meeting that you go ahead and fix a cut-off date for settling the insider-outsider issue in order to give class III and class IV jobs to youths of Jharkhand. Our party does not have any issue if this even coincides with the date of Jharkhand formation (November 15, 2000),” said KK Poddar, Central Treasurer of the party who has played an important role in presenting JVM’s viewpoint on the matter during the all-party consultation.
However, the major resentment is expected to come from the JMM or smaller political outfits banking on staunch tribal support base. “We would not let anyone to allow outsiders to take away what are the rights of the locals. Only those who have names of their forefathers in the land records can claim resident status of Jharkhand,” said Supriyo Bhattacharya, general secretary of the party.
At the same time, officials also apprehend that announcement of the policy may hinder series of appointments continuing midway. “lots of recruitment, including those of primary teachers are being done at present based on the 1932 land records. If a new system to determine insider and outsider comes in the middle, then it may cause lots of resentments followed by lengthy legal proceedings,” opined a top official.