Saima Bhat
Srinagar
J&K Police has conducted 16 special recruitment drives since 2010 in which 2911 candidates were selected for on spot recruitment. State claims that it is cabinet decision that such drives should be done in the underrepresented areas of the state.
Details placed on table of the house on Monday revealed in each recruitment drive, around 5000 to 1000 candidates had participated. In all 2004 candidates were selected from Kashmir and 707 from Jammu division. In Kashmir, most of the on spot recruitments took place in districts of Srinagar, Shopian, Budgam, Baramulla and Kulgam. However, the scheme was better dispersed in Jammu region where rallies took place in remote belts of Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, and Jammu.
The documents also reveal that in addition to the on-spot recruitments an additional, 2497 SPOs (special police officials) were recruited in the state between January 2011 and September 20, 2012.
The state government has already formulated a policy for the absorption / conversion of SPOs as constables/ followers with minimum three years of continuous engagements. Under this policy, 1139 SPOs were adjusted as constables and followers which is a permanent job as compared to the SPO.
The government is planning increasing honorarium of SPOs from Rs 3000 to 5000 per month. In fact, the state has already submitted a proposal to the ministry of home affairs, Government of India for approval. SPOs were initially getting Rs 1500 a month.
But as far as VDCs (Village Defense Committees) are concerned they are said to be purely voluntary not eligible for any honorarium. The state will conduct more on spot recruitment drives in different districts of J&K the documents revealed.
