Srinagar, December 12
For the 185 persons of Budgam district whose relatives fell to militants’ bullets years ago, the wait for getting a government job ended on Tuesday when the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, announced that the relaxation in their age or qualification would be ordered soon. The aspirants present at the public meeting in Chadoora, where compassionate appointment orders were distributed among 49 members of militancy victim families, greeted the announcement with cheers.

The aspirants had almost lost hope as their cases had been pending since as long as 1990. Amin is a matriculate who needs relaxation of age to get the job under SRO 43. Likewise, Parveena Akhtar has been waiting since September 27, 1991, when her husband fell to the bullet of a militant. She needs relaxation by a year and nine months in her age to get the job.

As many as 263 cases in Budgam district were identified for compassionate appointment. However, only 49 cases were found eligible and qualifying in terms of the relevant SRO. Pending since 1990, as many as 185 cases could not be finalised as relaxation in age or qualification was not accorded. However, when the Chief Minister was informed about the agony of these people, he immediately announced that the relaxation in all 185 cases would be ordered soon. The maximum number of 34 of these cases pertain to the year 1996 followed by 26 of 1995, 19 each of 1991 and 1997 and 14 each of 1994 and 1999 and five of 2001.

Tuesday’s function at Chadoora was no different from the ones held at Baramulla, Srinagar and Jammu earlier to provide jobs to victims of militancy. The common thing that made these functions alike yet solemn was the concern of the government to reach out to the agonized people and the gratitude pouring out of the eyes of the beneficiaries. Consistent with the Chief Minister’s of-repeated promise that his government would give a healing touch to the situation and wipe the tears of the people who have suffered due to the long turmoil in the state, the effort of the government has been well received by the people across the state.