J&K grants 3% quota to those living near International Border

Amid tensions on the borders, Jammu and Kashmir government has granted three per cent reservation to the people living along the International Border in the Jammu division.

The decision was taken by the State Administrative Council (SAC) which met in Jammu under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik.

The SAC approved the draft amendments in the “Jammu and Kashmir Reservation Act, 2014” for extending the benefits of reservation to persons residing in the areas along the International Border (IB).

IB covers a population of around three lakh spread over 350 villages in Jammu division. The amendment, the government said, shall meet the long-standing demand of the people residing in areas adjoining IB for their overall socio-economic and educational development.

“The demand was examined in consultation with J&K State Commission for Backward Classes, and it was felt that persons residing in the areas adjoining IB are similarly situated as the persons residing in the areas adjoining Actual Line of Control (ALC), so far as their socio-economic backwardness is concerned and thereby qualify for inclusion within the ambit of reservation at par with persons living in areas adjoining Line of Actual Control,” said an official spokesman.

Jammu and Kashmir is the only state in the country which shares borders with both Pakistan and China. Army is manning 772 Km of Line of Control (LoC) and 122 Km of Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL) at Siachen. Border Security Force (BSF) is deployed on the 192 Kilometer of International border (IB).

As per the recommendations of the J&K State Commission for Backward Classes , the areas falling within six kilometer from the IB shall be covered for the reservation. List of such villages will be notified once the Ordinance is promulgated.

“As per the existing reservation rules, three percent reservation is admissible to people residing on LoC in direct recruitment. Reservation of three percent is also available to the people residing on Actual Line of Control (ALC) in professional institutions”, he said.

With this amendment, ALC and IB will be considered as one category for purposes of seeking reservation in direct recruitment and in promotions. This will benefit a large number of people residing in the areas adjoining IB to reap the benefits of reservation like other categories.

Social Welfare Department will now process the draft amendment for further consideration of the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs for promulgation of the Ordinance by the Competent Authority.