Less than a week after suffering a rout in the Lok Sabha polls in the state, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has initiated "corrective steps" and decided to scrap the 'New Recruitment Policy' started two years ago.
"I am bringing a proposal to the J&K Cabinet on Wednesday and I'm proposing scrapping the 'New Recruitment Policy' with immediate effect," Omar wrote in a series of tweets last night.
According to the policy, which was approved by the state Cabinet in 2011, new appointees for Class-III and Class-IV posts were paid fixed monthly salary equivalent to 50 per cent of the basic pay (Pay Band + Grade Pay) for the first two years.
For the next three years or during the remaining period out of the total five years, the employee would be entitled to receive fixed salary of about 75 per cent of the basic pay. The policy was widely criticised as daily wage labourers were earning more than what a new appointee in the government service did. "This is based on feedback that I've received from countless youth spread across the length and breadth of the state over last the two days," Omar said.
He said there will be similar corrective steps announced over the days and weeks ahead covering various facets of government services. Omar has sought suggestions from the masses through email as part of an introspection process for the party following the serious drubbing the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition suffered in the just-concluded elections.
The two parties, which were contesting three seats each, drew a blank in the polls. "1700+ emails still to be read. I've read and acknowledged 100's. Bear with me, I'll read and acknowledge all," Omar wrote on the micro-blogging site as suggestions started pouring in.
National Conference president Farooq Abdullah, who lost an election for the first time since he began his political career in 1980, chaired a meeting of senior party leaders here yesterday. With assembly elections in the state due within next six months, the party leaders suggested taking some measures to win back the confidence of the electorate.
Some of the measures suggested at the meeting include reduction in electricity tariff for domestic consumers, removing ban on engaging casual labourers and fast track recruitment of nearby 70,000 vacancies in various government departments.
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