Srinagar: A political war of words has erupted between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling National Conference (NC) over the Jammu and Kashmir government’s outsourcing of jobs through more than 200 private agencies over the past two years, with both sides defending their positions on employment generation and recruitment policy.
The exchange comes a day after it emerged that the Omar Abdullah-led government had outsourced more than 25000 positions across various government departments, with the Floriculture Department and the Health and Medical Education Department accounting for the largest share of such engagements.
Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma accused the government of legitimising backdoor appointments under the guise of outsourcing and alleged that the system was undermining the aspirations of educated youth waiting for regular government jobs.
“There is no objection if people get employment. Even the Chief Minister himself admitted in the Assembly that jobs have been provided. Our concern is that poor and deserving youth who have studied hard are waiting for transparent recruitment based on merit. Instead, the government is trying to legitimise backdoor appointments through outsourcing, which has become a misfortune for the common youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” Sharma told media.
He maintained that government recruitment should be carried out only through a proper mechanism that ensures fairness and merit, adding that the BJP would oppose the outsourcing policy “from the streets to the Secretariat.”
Responding to the criticism, Cabinet Minister Sakina Itoo rejected the allegations and asserted that the outsourcing policy was not introduced by the National Conference government.
“I want to make it clear that outsourcing was not created by this government. It was introduced during the tenure of those who are today criticising it,” Itoo said.
She said she had recently raised the issue with the Union Government, arguing that creating permanent posts would be a better alternative than outsourcing.
“I told the Union Minister that outsourcing does not provide job security. Even if 500 or 1,000 permanent posts are created, it would be better because youth would get employment through a proper and transparent process,” she said.
Defending the government’s approach, Itoo said thousands of educated young people were compelled to apply even for temporary academic arrangement positions because of the scarcity of regular employment opportunities.
She also accused those questioning of hypocrisy, alleging that previous governments had witnessed recruitment irregularities and scams in various institutions.
“Those who presided over recruitment scams and appointed ineligible people have no moral authority to lecture us on recruitment procedures. They should first seek inquiries into appointments made during their own tenure instead of misleading the youth of Jammu and Kashmir,” she said.
Itoo further urged the opposition not to discourage young people who were finding employment through available opportunities, while reiterating that the present government was aware of the need for transparent recruitment and regular appointments.
