 "'Reservation' likely in Uttarakhand govt jobs")
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has said his government would hold the right to decide on who among the disaster affected people in the state will be eligible for government jobs on a “priority basis”.
According to insider sources, a move is afoot at the highest level to give priority to such persons in government jobs so as to to mitigate their sufferings and stop their migration from the mountains.
Bahuguna also confirmed such a move and said he has already given instructions to give priorities in government jobs to all those youths who have lost their breadwinners in the disasters. Nearly, 924 people from Uttarakhand were killed in the June 16-17 deluge alone.
However, the move to provide priorities to the affected people is also obliquely being seen as close to job reservations. Though the chief minister is quiet on the issue of reservation in jobs, state Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said, “A thought is also being given on the issue.”
He, however, did not elaborate further. However, Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh said she was not aware of any such decision. “if it has to be done, it should come through a policy decision,” she said, when asked whether she would support such a move.
Already, Rajasthan has announced plans to provide government jobs to one family member of all those who lost their lives in Uttarakhand.
The Rajasthan government’s move has put the state government in a tight spot. The Chief Minister has also stated that his government would review the compensation as well as financial assistance in this regard. Uttarakhand is only giving Rs 5 lakh.
Nevertheless, the job reservation is being seen as a separate issue though no such demand has come openly from various political parties. “Since disaster has created havoc in the hills, the government should give priority to all those people who lost their bread winners as well as homes in the hills,” said state ruling Congress vice president Surya Kant Dhasmana.
State BJP President Tirath Singh Rawat said though his party would not support job reservation, he wanted the government to provide jobs to the affected people on priority basis.
According to insider sources, a move is afoot at the highest level to give priority to such persons in government jobs so as to to mitigate their sufferings and stop their migration from the mountains.
Bahuguna also confirmed such a move and said he has already given instructions to give priorities in government jobs to all those youths who have lost their breadwinners in the disasters. Nearly, 924 people from Uttarakhand were killed in the June 16-17 deluge alone.
More From This Section
It was not yet clear whether family members of all those who lost their lives in other natural disasters in the past few years would also get the priorities in government jobs.
However, the move to provide priorities to the affected people is also obliquely being seen as close to job reservations. Though the chief minister is quiet on the issue of reservation in jobs, state Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said, “A thought is also being given on the issue.”
He, however, did not elaborate further. However, Finance Minister Indira Hridayesh said she was not aware of any such decision. “if it has to be done, it should come through a policy decision,” she said, when asked whether she would support such a move.
Already, Rajasthan has announced plans to provide government jobs to one family member of all those who lost their lives in Uttarakhand.
The Rajasthan government’s move has put the state government in a tight spot. The Chief Minister has also stated that his government would review the compensation as well as financial assistance in this regard. Uttarakhand is only giving Rs 5 lakh.
Nevertheless, the job reservation is being seen as a separate issue though no such demand has come openly from various political parties. “Since disaster has created havoc in the hills, the government should give priority to all those people who lost their bread winners as well as homes in the hills,” said state ruling Congress vice president Surya Kant Dhasmana.
State BJP President Tirath Singh Rawat said though his party would not support job reservation, he wanted the government to provide jobs to the affected people on priority basis.