Srinagar, Mar 17 (NVI): Peoples Conference president Sajad Gani Lone has urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to review the existing criteria for granting Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservations in jobs and admissions, citing disparities affecting candidates from Kashmir Valley.
Lone, in a post on X, highlighted that the Below Poverty Line (BPL) population in Kashmir exceeds that of Jammu, yet representation from the Valley in the EWS category remains disproportionately low.
He said that only one out of nine qualifiers in the EWS category in the recent KAS examination was from Kashmir, despite official figures showing a higher BPL population in the Valley.
“The number of souls in the Below Poverty Line category (Antyodaya Anna Yojana + Priority Households) in Kashmir Valley exceeds that in Jammu,” Lone said, adding that the figures stand at 37.71 lakh in Kashmir compared to 29.81 lakh in Jammu.
He further stated that government data shared in the Assembly revealed that only 7.7 percent and 8.6 percent of EWS certificates were issued in Kashmir, indicating a major imbalance.
Lone attributed the issue to the criteria for issuance of EWS certificates, particularly the asset-based conditions.
“While most of the BPL population in Kashmir falls within the income eligibility, asset-related conditions such as the size of residential house and plot are excluding many deserving candidates,” he said.
Calling it a “grave injustice,” Lone cited district-wise BPL figures, stating that Srinagar has 5.09 lakh BPL population, Kupwara 5.21 lakh, Baramulla 5.79 lakh and Anantnag 5.76 lakh.
He added that EWS certification could serve as a confidence-building measure for areas such as old city Srinagar, Baramulla, Anantnag, Budgam and parts of Sopore.
Lone appealed to the Chief Minister to address the issue urgently, warning that continuing recruitment under the current criteria would lead to further injustice.
“All reservations are heavily tilted towards Jammu. This particular category is tilted because of government norms, not because Kashmir is economically better off,” he said.
He also questioned why Jammu and Kashmir cannot adopt models from states like Rajasthan and Kerala, where asset-based conditions have reportedly been relaxed or removed.
“It is time to review and reform the criteria. If other states can do away with such norms, why can’t we?” Lone asked—(NVI)
