Though not out of context, the UT Government had announced to embark upon the process to fight unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir and to create, as well as provide, 50000 jobs to the eligible unemployed persons . It has a related factor of identifying vacant posts on need based criteria in each department and institution run by the Government which perhaps every six months, either as a routine or as a formality, may be taking place. The moot question is whether any concrete steps even in phased manner are being taken? We have been regularly pointing out the same and voicing concern about lot many departments and even statutory organisations like Pollution Control Board etc reeling under staff shortage where vacant posts duly identified are not filled resulting in adversely affecting the work and the output of such departments. So it can safely be believed and not merely assumed that on matters related to Human Resources Development, including the most important – that of providing employment and addressing the overall employment factor vis-a-vis filling various posts lying vacant , the Government had neither any strategy nor any planning .
Agreeably, in the entire scenario, ad-hoc measures resorted to are equally of no permanent solutions . While the Government talks about various social welfare measures for the needy , for those who have nothing to fall back upon, the apparatus to deal with , serve and to cater to their requirements based all on compassionate and even humanitarian grounds, is found to be in utter deficit. If not , how it can be accounted for that several Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO) posts continue to remain vacant in many areas of Jammu and Kashmir . How can it be assumed that various social welfare schemes are, therefore, meticulously implemented so as to ensure that the beneficiaries stood advantaged in the absence of the reasonably adequate number of personnel ?
Social welfare schemes in good number in favour of old women with absolutely minimum or no means, widows, divorced poor women , disabled people, destitute, orphan children and other similar groups have to undergo certain formalities to be completed in which these TSWOs are extending helping hand by informing the identified beneficiaries about such schemes and changes therein , if any, helping them in filling in applications and other forms and even in recommending and referring their cases, for getting monthly relief / help, to concerned higher authorities. Since in the absence of a proper planning on consistent basis and taking recourse to sheer ad-hoc measures , not only do the targeted groups suffer but administrative work gets affected with low or sub-standard output. How can one personnel look after satisfactorily added assignments and duties in addition to one’s own and under such avoidable workload neither one’s basic job nor added one are looked into properly.
Without scientific planning about replenishing the staff strength which is necessitated on account of opening up of more offices in tehsils , attaining superannuation or leaving employment by the staff members , mere temporary arrangements and patch working approach can never be any solution. In fact, in these days of fast changing world , introducing innovative, result oriented , reforms and modifications and pragmatic approaches are accepted credentials of planning and policies where such a scenario having least scope calls for taking stock of all vacant posts so as to have them filled through the designated recruiting agencies. That process not only in Social Welfare Department but in all those departments which continue to reel under staff shortage and resultant low performance problems , should be started as early as possible. As on ending March 2020, reportedly there was a whopping number of 84000 vacant posts in Jammu and Kashmir and as on date, in the absence of latest data, presumably there being no change worth the name in the scenario, remedial steps need to be taken after reassessing the position on need based requirements.
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