Srinagar, Oct 21 (KNS): Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti on Wednesday questioned the recruitment criteria for forestry-related government posts in Jammu and Kashmir, saying graduates who spend four years specialising in forestry are being denied a fair opportunity to compete for jobs in their own field.

Expressing support for protesting forestry graduates, Mufti said the removal of the earlier provision granting 30 additional points to candidates holding forestry degrees had placed professionally qualified students at a disadvantage.

“A degree in forestry is a professional degree for which students study 80 subjects over the course of four years. For engineering, you need an engineering degree. For medicine, you need to study medicine. Similarly, for a forestry post, you need to have knowledge about the forest,” she said.

Mufti argued that allowing candidates without specialised forestry qualifications to compete for such posts undermined the purpose of professional education.

“If these students study 80 subjects for four years and have chosen a professional discipline, then at least ensure that they get a level playing field,” she said.

Drawing attention to environmental challenges in Jammu and Kashmir, the PDP leader said the region needed trained forestry professionals capable of addressing deforestation, ecological degradation and threats to its natural resources.

She said candidates educated in forest management, flora, fauna and Kashmir's specific ecology should be given appropriate consideration for positions involving the protection of forests and the environment.

Referring to the ongoing protest by forestry graduates, Mufti questioned why the government had failed to resolve their grievances despite demonstrations continuing for nearly a month.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

She also linked their concerns to wider employment-related protests involving medical interns and open merit candidates.

“Since childhood, they are told to get an education and build their future on the basis of merit. But in Kashmir, with every passing day, we see how our youngsters are being deprived of equal employment opportunities,” she said.

Mufti appealed directly to Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana to fulfil what she described as an assurance given to the protesting graduates regarding changes to recruitment rules.

“You gave them reassurance that their job criteria and recruitment rules will specifically, as a prerequisite, ask for a degree in forestry. So, justice must be done,” she said.

Questioning the delay, she said the elected government had the responsibility and authority to address the issue.

“This is something that they can do in the span of a few seconds. Why is it taking so long?” she asked.

The PDP leader maintained that forestry graduates were not seeking special privileges but recognition of their professional qualifications.

“We are not asking for any entitlement, any privilege, or any special favours. We are saying that do justice to these kids. They have a professional degree,” she said.

Mufti further argued that protecting Jammu and Kashmir's mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers and forests required people with specialised knowledge of the region's environment.

She urged the government to revise the recruitment criteria and ensure that qualified forestry graduates were not deprived of employment opportunities in their specialised field.

The remarks come amid demands from forestry graduates for changes in recruitment eligibility rules for forest-related posts. (KNS)