JAMMU, Oct 9: Members of the Jammu Kashmir Agricultural Students Association on Friday held a one-day symbolic chain hunger strike at the Press Club, Jammu, to press for the resolution of their long-pending demands concerning recruitment policies and employment opportunities for agricultural graduates in Jammu and Kashmir.
The protest, held from 11 AM to 4 PM, was organised to express the association’s concern over what it described as the government’s continued failure to respond to its demands despite repeated representations and peaceful demonstrations over the past several months.
The association stated that it had consistently pursued democratic means to highlight the issues, including submitting memorandums, organising peaceful protests and seeking meaningful dialogue with the concerned authorities. However, it maintained that no concrete action had been taken to address its concerns.
The protesting students urged the government to initiate constructive dialogue with their representatives and resolve the issues at the earliest, stating that prolonged delays in recruitment and changes to service rules had adversely affected employment prospects for qualified agricultural graduates.
One of the major demands raised by the association was the implementation of the 50:50 recruitment ratio prescribed under SRO-179 for the post of Agriculture Extension Officer (AEO), Gazetted Cadre (Technical). The association demanded a fair balance between direct recruitment and departmental promotion, stating that the prescribed mechanism should be implemented to ensure transparency and equitable opportunities.
The students also sought the immediate referral of all vacant AEO posts falling under the direct recruitment quota to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). They claimed that these vacancies had reportedly not been referred for direct recruitment since 2008, resulting in prolonged stagnation and uncertainty for eligible agricultural graduates seeking government employment.
Another key demand was the revocation of SRO-442, which, according to the association, provides for 100 per cent departmental promotion to certain non-gazetted entry-level technical posts. The protesters called for the restoration of an appropriate recruitment mechanism that would provide fresh and qualified candidates an opportunity to enter government service.
The association maintained that recruitment policies should protect the interests of both serving employees and newly qualified graduates while ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.
Describing the five-hour protest as a symbolic and peaceful step, the association warned that failure to address its demands within the stipulated time could compel agricultural technocrats to intensify their agitation through further chain hunger strikes and, subsequently, a fast unto death.
The students appealed to the government to take their concerns seriously and provide a time-bound response rather than allowing the matter to remain unresolved.
They also urged the media and the general public to support their cause and highlight the employment-related challenges faced by agricultural graduates across the Union Territory.
The association reiterated that its objective was to secure fair recruitment opportunities, the implementation of existing service provisions and a constructive resolution of the issues through dialogue with the government.