Dr Raja Muzaffar Bhat
Some months back State Administrative Council (SAC) headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik accorded an approval for notifying 66 villages in J&K as backward areas thus bringing these villages in the category of Reserve Backward Areas (RBA). Many villages in Srinagar which are located just on the city outskirts and are considered to be posh areas have also been notified as backward areas (RBA). After every three or four years a dozen or more villages are notified as RBA while as not even a single such village has been de-notified till date since RBA category has been introduced. In-spite of the fact that there is a provision for carrying out de-notification of villages after 10 years, till date not even a single village stands de-notified in any part of J&K. There are many RBA villages which have facilities like Degree Colleges , English medium schools , Technical Institutions, better road connectivity etc, but they are still enjoying the reservation under RBA. Many RBA villages have developed as towns having offices of Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Tehsildar and Banks but they still want to be RBAs only to grab Government jobs and admissions in professional institutions. The ultimate sufferers in this vicious cycle are the youth who in-spite of being meritorious and belonging to lower economic strata do not get the benefit of RBA ? In addition to it, RBA areas which have developed as towns and commercial hubs are doing injustice with the actual backward villages of their tehsil or district.
Periodic Revision
Section 11 of Jammu and Kashmir State Commission for Backward Classes Act, 1997 calls for Periodic revision of lists by the Government. Section 11 reads as “The Government may at any time, and shall, at the expiration of ten years from the coming into force of this Act and every succeeding period of ten years thereafter, undertake revision of the lists with a view to excluding from such lists those classes who have ceased to be backward classes or for including in such lists new backward classes. The Government shall, while undertaking any revision referred to in sub-section (1), consult the Commission ”
Case studies
Chandilora village is located mere 2kms from Tangmarg tehsil headquarters of Baramulla district. This area was declared as an RBA village many decades back , but as on date this is no more a backward village and infact has developed into a town with lot of hustle and bustle. Being located on busy Srinagar – Gulmarg road , this town has flourished a lot due to huge tourist inflow. Offices of SDM and Tehildar Tangmarg are located in this area plus there is a Degree College as well. Another ” village “Ferozpora is located mere ½ km from Tangmarg town having one of the best English medium schools (Tyndale Biscoe school Tangmarg) plus best road connectivity, but this area also is categorized as an RBA village ?In Anantnag district Kamad village is an RBA village located on Khanabal – Dooru road. The village is located 7 kms from Anantnag town having best road connectivity and all other facilities. In comparison Gopalpora Kalan located on a Karewa in Shangus constituency is not enlisted as RBA ? In Kulgam district Damhal Hanjipora was indeed a backward area until 10 years back but right now Damhal is a town having SDM Office , Degree College , Tehsil office , J&K Bank and few higher secondary schools. On contrary to this Gasirena village in Pahloo block of same area is not enlisted as a backward area.In Chadoora sub division of Budgam there are many villages which are located mere 15 to 20 kms from Srinagar city but they continue to be backward areas (RBAs). These areas were indeed educationally backward until 10-15 years back , but after getting benefits of RBA reservation the socio economic condition has altogether changed. Renowned schools of Srinagar and Budgam ply their school buses in these areas. Now the students have access to better education as well. On contrary to this students and job aspirants from villages in upper Chadoora and Charar-e-sharief like Jabbad , Neegu , Kutbal , Bonen , Branwar , Darwan , Nagbal , Chalyan Choontnad etc which are also enlisted as RBAs are not able to compete with the students and job aspirants in RBA villages located around Chadoora town. The literacy rate in these villages is still less than 40 % and getting Govt jobs is a dream for most of the young men and women.
Conclusion
Political parties have used RBA as a vote bank and that is the reason they keep on adding more and more areas into this list. I am unable to understand that in-spite of having a clear cut provision for periodic revision under section 11 of J&K Backward Classes Commission Act 1997 , why are not RBA villages that have made progress during last many years de-notified by the Government ? Governors rule is the right time to de-notify at least 50 % villages that have made progress both financially and educationally. In-fact Advisor to Governor Khurshid Ahmad Ganai has agreed to look into this issue seriously and has assured to empower the J&K Backward Classes Commission to de-notify many RBA villages that are no more backward as on date. There is an urgent need to make some amendments in the legislation so as to empower the Backward Classes Commission in this regard. This is the only way to do justice with economically and educationally backward areas of Jammu & Kashmir
(The author is Founder &
Chairman of JK RTI Movement )
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