MLA shared the details of category certificates issued in JK from April 1, 2023
Srinagar: In a shocking revelation, the impact of reservation policies in JK has shown staggering disparities, with Kashmir facing disproportionately higher losses than anticipated. Addressing concerns over regional quotas, People’s Conference (PC) President and MLA Handwara, Sajad Lone, pointed out that the issuance of category certificates in Jammu far outweighs those in Kashmir, leaving the Kashmiri-speaking population at a major disadvantage.
In the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir legislative sessions , Lone has been highlighting the issue repeatedly.
According to the data Lone posted on X, not a single Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate was issued in Kashmir, while Jammu accounted for all of them.
Similarly, in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category, Jammu received 85.3% of the total certificates, while Kashmir was limited to just 14.7%. The trend continues across other categories, with Jammu receiving the overwhelming majority of certificates under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), ALC, and IB categories. Even in the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) category, where numbers appear somewhat balanced, Jammu still edges out Kashmir despite the latter having a slightly larger population.
Sajad Lone argued that the current reservation framework is rigged against the Kashmiri-speaking population, as well as ST and EWS residents of Kashmir. He pointed out that even within the ST category, which is meant to benefit marginalised communities, Kashmiri applicants make up a meager 15% of the total pool, exposing the structural disadvantages they face.
The committee set up by the government on December 10, 2024, to examine grievances related to these disparities has not been given a clear timeline for submitting its report. Although initially told that the report would be completed within six months, there has been no formal assurance on when corrective measures will be implemented.
