Calls 92% Poor in Jammu, 8% in Kashmir “A Joke” on Science of Economics
Srinagar, Oct 01: J&K Peoples Conference President and Handwara MLA Sajad Lone on Thursday questioned how the Jammu and Kashmir government identifies the poor, demanding a single, uniform definition of poverty and warning that the current Economically Weaker Section (EWS) criteria are costing thousands of Kashmiri youth their rightful share of government jobs.
“How does government identify the poor? What is the definition of a poor person? We need a uniform definition of poor and poverty,” Lone said.
He pointed out that the government is working with two conflicting yardsticks. “As per the current definition of poverty, 92% certificates issued for EWS are from Jammu region and 8% from Kashmir region,” he said, adding that this “almost means that 92% of poor people in J&K reside in the Jammu region and only 8% reside in the Kashmir region.”
The second yardstick, Lone remarked, comes from the same government. “Yet another definition of poor by the same government is ration cards for people living below poverty line (BPL), PHH and AAY ration cards,” he said. Holders of these cards get food items at subsidised prices, he explained, and the cards serve as proof that the holder is a poor person. “Premier health institutions in the country like AIIMS also accept them as a proof of poverty,” he added.
Lone noted that there is only one instance where such cards are rejected. “The only instance when this PHH/AAY ration card is not accepted as a proof of poverty is when a person from J&K applies for a government job. The government asks for a recruitment specific EWS certificate,” he said.
Citing the figures, he said Kashmir has 37.71 lakh PHH/AAY ration cards while Jammu has 29.81 lakh. “As per this definition, 55% poor people live in Kashmir and 45% in Jammu. But as per the definition of EWS criteria, 92% of the poor reside in Jammu region and 8% reside in Kashmir region,” he observed.
Lone then posed pointed questions to the administration. “How is it possible to have two definitions of poverty by the same government? How can government spend crores in subsidies for the poor and then deny their poorness when they apply for a job?” he asked.
He also questioned how two regions could show such a divergence. “How is it possible that the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir, which have been a single economic, social and political entity for hundreds of years, can have such differing levels of poverty? They have same economic indicators,” Lone said.
Terming the gap implausible, he asserted: “How can 92% poor reside in Jammu region and only 8% in Kashmir region? Such a rich and poor divide across two regions is an impossibility in the world of economics. It actually defies the science of economics. Not possible.”
Turning to the root of the problem, Lone said the government uses an asset-based criteria for issuing EWS certificates. “Apart from other criteria, anybody having residential house of more than 3.68 Marlas is rich. Even the poorest has a house of this size in Kashmir,” he said. He added that some states, such as Kerala, use ration cards as proof of poverty, and have “a single uniform definition of the poor.”
On the region-wise impact on jobs, Lone cited replies to his questions in the Assembly session. “In the last two years, 7580 job vacancies have been filled by the government. The quota for EWS reservation at 10% means 758 are reserved for EWS,” he said.
“Under the EWS criteria, out of 758 jobs, 697 jobs have gone to Jammu region and 61 jobs have gone to Kashmir region. By PHH/AAY ration card criteria, 341 jobs would have gone to Jammu region and 417 jobs would have gone to Kashmir region,” he stated.
Lone said the future outlook is even bleaker. “As per the answer to my question in this assembly session, there are 49672 job vacancies to be filled up. That quota for EWS reservation at 10% means 4967 jobs will be reserved for EWS,” he said.
“Under the EWS criteria, out of 4967 jobs, 4569 jobs are all set to go to Jammu region and a meagre 398 jobs will go to Kashmir region. By the PHH/AAY ration card criteria, 2235 jobs would go to Jammu region and 2732 jobs would go to Kashmir region,” he added.
Slamming the status quo, Lone said: “This gap of poverty, 92% vs 8% between Jammu and Kashmir regions, is a joke at the expense of the science of economics. And we are living with a joke at the cost of thousands of poor students who are denied an EWS certificate because their government can’t understand primary economics taught at class 10th level.”
Calling for reform, he asserted that “the asset based criteria has to be changed.” He said the Hon’ble Speaker has given a direction that the matter merits examination and that the government should study the EWS criteria used by different states. “Let us hope the government works on it,” he remarked.
Responding to the government’s stand, Lone said: “Government says changing criteria is not in their domain. I disagree. It is in their domain.”
