J&K rejects quota for women in govt jobs

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir legislative council rejected on Friday 10% reservation for women in government-run institutions as proposed by the opposition National Conference.

The resolution seeking quota in government departments, PSUs and other autonomous bodies was moved by National Conference’s Davindar Rana. It was defeated by a voice vote.

Minister of state for social welfare GM Saroori said the government was not in favour of reservation for women in government services because it was against its stated policy. He, however, promised equal opportunities to women in all fields.

“The government has taken several steps to help womenfolk. We have passed the domestic violence bill to guard women against all sorts of violence and are committed to providing equal opportunities to them to excel in every field,” said Saroori, winding up discussions on the resolution and admitting that only 40% of the women in the state were literate.

Earlier, Rana strongly pressed for the quota, saying there was a need for such a reservation because a high number of women in the state were unemployed.

h_ishfaq@dnaindia.net