SRINAGAR: Jammu division issued 24,058 Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) certificates during the last two years, nearly ten times the 2,486 certificates issued in Kashmir division, taking the Jammu and Kashmir total to 26,544, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Tuesday.
The figures were disclosed by the Revenue Department in reply to a Question tabled by MLA Surjit Singh Slathia.
The district-wise data shows considerable variation in the number of EWS certificates issued across Jammu division. Udhampur recorded the highest number at 5,865, followed by Jammu with 5,075 and Kathua with 4,614. Samba issued 3,435 certificates, while Reasi accounted for 1,381.
In Kashmir division, Kulgam recorded the highest number at 618, followed by Anantnag with 583 and Baramulla with 315. Budgam issued 254 certificates, Srinagar 174, Pulwama 157, Bandipora 82, Kupwara 80, Ganderbal 70 and Shopian 153.
The figures provided by the department put the total number of EWS certificates issued in Kashmir division at 2,486, compared with 24,058 in Jammu division.
The Revenue Department furnished the information in response to the MLA’s query seeking division-wise details of EWS certificates issued during the preceding two years, along with constituency-wise information for Samba district.
The reply, however, does not provide an explanation for the substantial difference between the number of EWS certificates issued in the two divisions.
The department has also stated that constituency-wise details of EWS certificates issued in Samba district were sought separately in the Assembly question.
