Srinagar: Resentment is brewing among the unemployed engineering graduates against the government for its decision to rehire the retired engineers for the execution of the works being undertaken by the Rural Development Department (RDD) in Kashmir.
In an order issued by the Director RDD Kashmir around 29 retired Juniors Engineers (JEs) have been rehired in different blocks of the Kashmir division for the execution of works and other projects.
However, the move has pocketed criticism for the government from the engineering graduates who said that the government was “choking” the space for the professionals instead of providing employment opportunities to the unemployed youth of J&K.
“There are over 50,000 unemployed engineering graduates in J&K who are subjected to mental trauma due to no employment opportunities for them,” said Adnan, an engineering graduate from Baramulla.
The aggrieved unemployed youth said that the government’s move to rehire the retired engineers to fill the shortage in RDD on a contractual basis was gross injustice with the unemployed engineers.
“The government should reconsider its decision and create employment avenues for educated unemployed engineers,” said Idrees, another candidate from Srinagar.
The engineering graduates said that the unemployment graph in J&K continues to swell and the rehiring of retired employees was choking the space for the educated unemployed youth.
“The government should give a chance to the unemployed engineers to hold these positions in the RDD. We are not demanding any permanent jobs but they should advertise these posts and hire eligible people at least on a contract basis,” said Muhammad Majid, an unemployed engineering graduate from Bandipora.
Following the Administrative Council’s decision of August 14, Principal Secretary RDD and Panchayati Raj authorised Director RDD Kashmir to initiate the process for engagements of retired engineers on a contractual basis against the available vacancies of Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs), Assistant Engineers (AEs) and Junior Engineers (JEs) in their respective divisions to expedite execution of works.
“It is surprising that despite claims to provide employment opportunities to educated youth, the government is hiring retired people. This will only increase the graph of unemployment in J&K,” said another engineering youth.
Talking to Greater Kashmir, Director RDD Kashmir, Tariq Ahmad Zargar said that the decision to rehire the retired engineers was taken by the government and he was only completing the process.
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