State govt prepares to bring new employment policy

The Jharkhand government is preparing to reserve Class III & IV jobs for the locals in the state

RANCHI: The JMM-led Jharkhand coalition government is preparing to reserve Class III & IV jobs for the locals in the state, by legislating a new employment policy expected to be brought up for ratification in the upcoming budget session.

Fixing cut off date to grant domicile certificate (local resident certificate) has been a controversial issue in Jharkhand. The Raghubar Das government had fixed 1985 as the cut off year to grant domicile certificate. However, the ruling JMM and its allies have always questioned it. There have been demands, especially from tribal rights groups, to fix 1932 land records as the benchmark to fix domicile in the state.

“Earlier, even people from outside the state were able to get into jobs due to the loopholes in the employment policy during Raghubar government. Even the courts ruled against it. Our government is coming up with a new policy which will reserve class III & IV government jobs for the locals,” said JMM general secretary and central committee member Supriyo Bhattacharya.

The Hemant government last month withdrew the employment policy of the Raghubar Das government.

On the issue of revising the cut off date for defining a local or a moolvasi (original resident), Bhattacharya said the government is working on it and local administration and gram sabha can be empowered to grant certificate on such terms.

“Land records in itself are not enough to grant domicile as there are many who are landless. So, besides having a cut off date, the government can also provide other mechanism to grant domicile certificate. All this will be clear when it is done. People will get some clarity by upcoming budget session,” said Bhattacharya, without giving much details about the draft of the new policy.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo described the new development as political gimmick. “We will be able to make any comment only after seeing what the government has to offer. As of now, it appears to be a political gimmick as this government has failed to provide jobs to youth as per its electoral promises. Our government has also reserved class III & IV jobs for locals. The employment policy was amended in 2018 to remove the clause that created controversy. Wonder what the ruling party means by saying they will reserve all jobs for locals when that was already done,” said Shahdeo.

As of now, it appears to be a political gimmick as this govt has failed to provide jobs to youth as per electoral promises. PRATUL SHAHDEO, Jharkhand BJP spokesperson