SC/ST/OBC delegation meets Tribal Affairs Minister

JAMMU : All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC organisations, Jammu & Kashmir Unit, on tuesday called on Minister for Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana and submitted a memorandum of demands.
The memorandum delineated a series of critical demands aimed at addressing the grievances faced by the tribal population in Jammu and Kashmir.
It demanded restoration of reservation in promotions as per the CAT and High Court judgment dated 06.03.2025 that has cleared the way for reservation in promotions.
The delegation called for strict implementation of the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, restoration of SC Roster Point as per SRO-294, restoration of 5 year age relaxation for SC/ST candidates, filling of backlog vacancies for SC/ST/OBCS.
Additionally, the memorandum emphasised maintenance of Reservation Roster Register to ensure correct implementation of reservation policies. The memorandum, while highlighting the plight of landless underprivileged communities, also demanded prevention of State land allocation to outsiders.
Another pressing issue raised was conduct of a caste-based census to ensure proportionate allocation of reservations and resources. The delegation raised the issue of a SC member post in J&K PSC lying vacant since December 2022 and demanded fulfilling the same to safeguard the interests of the tribal population.
The memorandum also raised timely disbursement of SC/ST/OBC scholarships, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for Employees among other things.
Javed Rana gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured them that the government is abreast of their genuine demands and their concerns would be taken up for appropriate action. He said that various policies and programs have already been implemented aimed at fostering inclusive growth for marginalized sections of society.