Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, Jan 14: The Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board’s recent decision to solicit tenders for new technical experts aimed at forming a Project Management Unit (PMU) under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban 2.0 (PMAY-U) initiative has sparked alarm among current professionals involved in the implementation of this centrally sponsored scheme.
Professionals who have dedicated the last decade to the Housing for All (HFA) program under PMAY in Jammu and Kashmir believe this move disregards their contributions in favor of less proficient new hires who are set to receive considerably higher salaries.
They have labeled the initiative as “unjust,” questioning its compliance with directives from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court regarding the retention of technical experts. “There are High Court mandates that ensure the continuity of technical experts. Why is the administration ignoring these directives?” one affected professional posed.
The tender, issued by the PMAY (Urban) Mission Director, seeks qualified firms to establish and operate the State Level Technical Cell (SLTC) and City Level Technical Cell (CLTC) for a duration of five years in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
This decision impacts around 60 technical specialists, including project engineers, town planners, GIS experts, and training coordinators, who have played critical roles in achieving PMAY’s objectives of housing for underserved and homeless urban populations.
The professionals argue their commitment and expertise—recognized when the Union Territory received the PMAY-Urban award at the “India Urban Housing Conclave 2022”—are being disregarded. “We dedicated our prime years to this program, and now, the department is replacing us with less experienced consultants,” remarked one expert.
According to the tender document, incoming professionals will earn between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1.20 lakh, while current experts, despite sharing the same qualifications and responsibilities, receive only Rs 35,000.
Concerns surrounding this wage disparity have been raised. “This warrants investigation. Why are inexperienced individuals being brought in at a higher salary while trained personnel are underpaid? Something is amiss,” commented another expert.
Additionally, there are allegations that the tender process appears designed to advantage specific consultancy firms. “The documents seem customized to favor a select company,” remarked one expert, expressing worries about transparency and fairness in the proceeding.
The professionals have submitted a representation to the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, seeking the continuation of their services approximately three months after expressing concerns over this decision.
Ashish Gupta, the Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Housing Board, who also serves as the Mission Director of PMAY-Urban, refrained from providing further details. “The notice is available to the public. I have nothing more to add,” he stated.
