MLA Sajad Lone critises government for ‘administrative inefficiency, imbalance in job distribution’

STC NEWS DESK
SRINAGAR, FEBRUARY 13 (STC): MLA Sajad Lone has criticised the functioning of the Jammu and Kashmir government during the ongoing budget session, alleging administrative inefficiency, imbalance in job distribution and rising “divisive rhetoric” in political discourse.
Lone said the government appeared to lack the capacity to utilise available funds. “Normally states complain of shortage of funds. Here the issue is that money is there but there is no capacity to spend it. That reflects an administrative deficit,” he said in an interview with local news agency KNS and added that the government was “not running at full capacity”.
Referring to the recent budget presented by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Lone claimed expenditure levels remained low and alleged that commitments made by the ruling dispensation were not being fulfilled.
Notably, he devoted considerable attention to the reservation policy in government jobs, calling it a “serious issue” that could have long-term consequences if not addressed through data-backed reforms.
Claiming that Kashmir accounts for around 60 per cent of the population, Lone while talking to KNS alleged that its share in government jobs was between 25 and 28 per cent. “Even after accounting for Gujjars, Paharis and Kashmiri Pandits under reservation categories, the figure does not cross 30 per cent,” he said.
He argued that proposals reportedly under consideration by a cabinet sub-committee — including increasing open merit seats while reducing certain reserved categories — would not bridge what he described as a widening gap between population share and employment share.
“Without detailed research into recruitment patterns over the last two decades — region-wise and category-wise — how can you prescribe a solution?
Lone called for a comprehensive statistical review, reports the news agency.
(Straight Talk Communications)