Unemployed Agricultural Graduates of J&K Demand Govt.Action to Address Growing Unemployment Crisis

Unemployed Agricultural Graduates of Jammu and Kashmir Demand Government Action to Address Growing Unemployment Crisis

Mohammad Younis


Sopore : Jammu & Kashmir UT, Unemployed Agricultural Graduates Association of Jammu and Kashmir held Pecefull a sit-in protest today to voice their concerns over the escalating unemployment crisis faced by the agricultural graduates in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir. The association highlighted the Government’s lack of attention, inadequate policies, and the failure to fill vacant positions in the J&K Agriculture Production Department, which have intensified the unemployment situation for Agricultural graduates, post graduates, doctoral and post-doctoral students.

Sheikh Amjad, president of agriculture Graduation Association, along with other members expressed their displeasure against the policies of the government for not providing them job opportunities since long time. Protesters said that for the last 17 years they are very worried because after they graduate from the Agricultural University, the government is unable to give them jobs and they have to face various difficulties. He said that they have held many protests in different places before and put our demands in front of the government, but till now nothing has been done in this regard.He said that earlier there were posts announced in many departments for agriculture graduates but now for since long the government has ignored them and they are very worried regarding their future.

According to UAGAJK, there has been no direct recruitment for the gazetted level post of Agriculture Extension Officer, the only entry-level post in the gazetted cadre, since 2007. Furthermore, the non-gazetted cadre entry-level post of Junior Agriculture Extension Officer (JAEO) has been shut for Agriculture Graduates due to the enactment of SRO-442 on October 23, 2017. This SRO-442 mandated that the JAEO positions shall be filled through 100% promotions instead of the earlier 60% direct and 40% departmental promotions, effectively closing the door for fresh agricultural graduates. Despite repeated attempts by the association to seek redressal by knocking on the doors of various officers, including the Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary of JKAPD, Director of Agriculture in Jammu, and Director of Agriculture in Kashmir, the grievances still remain unaddressed. The association also submitted hundreds of grievances to the Jammu and Kashmir Government Grievance Cell, but to no avail, as the grievances were disposed of, citing the ongoing reorganization of the department as the reason from the past six years. The inability of the government to address the genuine concerns of unemployed agricultural graduates, despite our relentless efforts to seek redressal, is deeply disappointing," said Mr. Zakir. "The repeated dismissal of our grievances, citing the prolonged reorganization process, is a clear indication of the lack of will to tackle the unemployment crisis particularly for the Agricultural graduates head-on. The association emphasizes that these restrictive policies not only deprive qualified agricultural graduates of employment opportunities but also hinder the infusion of fresh talent and ideas into the Agriculture Production Department. UAGAJK calls for an immediate review and revocation of SRO-442 and the resumption of direct recruitment for both gazetted and non-gazetted entry-level posts. UAGAJK urged the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to intervene in this matter and requested him to take swift action to address the unemployment crisis faced by agricultural graduates in Jammu and Kashmir. Now We Again appealed LG administration and other concerned officials to look into the matter and devise a policy so as to accommodate agriculture graduates who are unemployed since long time.