IHK unemployed youth dole out Rs 3 cr in 25 days

Srinagar, Jan 31 : The Service Selection Board has earned at least Rs 3 crores by selling 1,53,000 forms to the unemployed youth of held Jammu and Kashmir in the past 25 days.

But despite charging the hefty amount of Rs 200 per form, the aspirants are crying non-availability of forms at different branches of the J&K Bank.

The SSB recently advertised about 3193 posts vide advertisement No. 03 of 2012 Dated 28-12012 in various categories and instructed the aspirants to obtain forms from different identified branches of the J&K Bank. The fee per form was fixed at Rs 200.

While the job aspirants are up in arms against the state government for ‘taxing them’ with exorbitant form fee, they are equally miffed at the non-availability of forms. “It is highly unfortunate and condemnable that the government is taxing the unemployed youth of the State who have no means to earn their livelihood,” said Adil Majeed, an aspirant. “In view of the rising graph of unemployment in the State, the form fee should have been fixed at a maximum of Rs 50.”

The aspirants said despite this, the forms are not available. “If the form fee was less, I would have applied for more posts,” Majeed, a science graduate, said. “But it seems that the SSB has devised this ploy to keep the aspirants away from applying for various posts.”
 Another aspirant said: “I had to pay Rs 2400 for 12 forms. It is an irony that the government is resorting to such tactics to tax the unemployed youth.”

The parents of many aspirants said they can’t afford to take many forms. “I am a poor labourer. My son is an Arts graduate who wanted to apply for six posts. But I can’t afford to do that in view of my poor financial situation,” said Ghulam Qadir, a parent from held Kashmir’s Baramulla district.

According to reports, the identified branches of J&K Bank across the State have so far sold around 153000 forms—120000 in held Kashmir and 33000 in Jammu from December 28 last to January 21. The SSB has earned revenue of Rs 30600000. The SSB is expected to sell 2.5 lakh forms till January 29, the last date for issuance of forms.

Many aspirants from Baramulla, who spoke to Greater Kashmir, rued non-availability of forms in the district.

When contacted, the SSB Chairman Muhammad Afzal Bhat said
the last date for issuance of forms has been already extended and “1 lakh forms have again been dispatched to various zonal offices of J&K Bank across the State.”

 On exorbitant fee, Bhat said: “The mode of selection has now been changed. Every candidate will have to appear in written exam and prove his mettle. This exam for such a huge number of aspirants will cost the SSB huge amount of money. That is why form fee was fixed at Rs 200.”

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SA/EN