SRINAGAR, Jan 23: MLA Hazaratbal Salman Ali Sagar has called upon Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to eliminate the examination form fee for candidates applying for various positions via government recruitment agencies.
Salman argued that charging an examination fee places an undue financial strain on the youth and their families in Jammu and Kashmir. He noted the contradiction in government recruitment boards demanding significant fees while in other regions, candidates typically pay only a nominal fee of Rs 100. In contrast, here, a single application can cost Rs 1000, and applying for multiple positions can multiply this cost. He also highlighted incidents where candidates were charged high fees only to discover that the job advertisements were rescinded without any refunds being issued. “This practice must end immediately,” Salman stated.
He mentioned that he has already brought this issue to the attention of Education Minister Ms. Sakina Yatoo, who has assured him of a resolution, as this pledge is included in the National Conference’s election manifesto. “We will not permit recruitment boards to operate as profit-making entities. The government recruitment agencies have collected hundreds of crores from hopeful candidates, even when many were never called to take the examination. I urge Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who has expressed his commitment to offering all possible support to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, to mandate a complete waiver of the examination fees. This move would not only motivate more youth to apply for available positions but would also provide critical relief amidst the ongoing unemployment crisis that the region has been facing for over a decade,” Salman added. (KNO)
