Omar scraps new recruitment policy

In an apparent course correction after the National Conference's debacle in the recent Lok Sabha polls, Jammu and Kashmir government today approved scrapping of the much-criticised new recruitment policy which was implemented two years ago.
The recruitment policy was rolled back during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah here.
Omar had announced day before yesterday that he is going to produce a proposal before the Cabinet to scrap the 'New Recruitment Policy' with an immediate effect.
He said it was one of the points highlighted by youths across the State through emails to him which he has been receiving as part of his introspection process started following the debacle in Lok Sabha polls in which the ruling National Conference-Congress coalition failed to win any of the six seats in the State.

According to the now-scrapped recruitment policy, which was approved by the State Cabinet in 2011, new appointees for Class-III and Class-IV posts were paid fixed monthly salary equivalent to 50 per cent of the basic pay (Pay Band+Grade Pay) for the first two years.
For the next three years or during the remaining period out of total five years, the employee was entitled to receive fixed salary of about 75 per cent of the basic pay.
The policy was widely criticised as daily wage labourers were earning more than what a new appointee in the government services.
Omar said similar corrective steps will be announced over the days and weeks covering various facets of the government services.