Jammu, Dec 3 (KNS): The Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet approved a revised reservation policy that increases the share of the general category in government jobs and professional admissions, sources said here.

The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, cleared the proposal after multiple rounds of deliberations and sent it to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for final approval before a formal notification is issued, they said.

The Cabinet has also approved the inclusion of two additional communities — Ahangar and Waghey/Chopan — in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) list

Under the new policy, reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) has been reduced by 7 percentage points, while the quota for Residents of Backward Areas (RBA) has been cut by 3 percentage points.

The adjustments will collectively enhance the quota available for the open merit or general category by 10 percentage points.

Once the revised policy is notified, 50 per cent of seats and posts in Jammu and Kashmir will be available under the open-merit/general category, the sources added.

Cabinet sources said the decision was taken to “bring parity in representation across sections” after reviewing utilisation patterns of reserved categories across recruitment cycles.

The proposal is now awaiting the approval of Lt Governor Sinha, after which the General Administration Department is expected to issue a detailed order outlining the revised quota distribution formula and the timelines for implementation.

Earlier in the day, the Cabinet cleared a series of departmental proposals, including promotions in the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department and the establishment of the Animal Protection Board.

The meeting, held at the Chief Minister’s Jammu residence at 9 am, discussed multiple administrative matters linked to governance and development, senior officials told KNS.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

Issues concerning electricity, reservation and winter preparedness also came up during the deliberations, they added.

A proposal regarding the promotion and service-related matters of officer cadres in the R&B Department received approval after detailed discussion, while financial allocations were sanctioned to strengthen cooperative societies operating in the livestock and fisheries sectors.

Cabinet Minister Javed Rana told reporters after the meeting that several agenda items were cleared, with the focus on timely redressal of pending administrative matters.

“There were some minor issues that were discussed. But I would say the main agenda involved the promotion and proposal of officers of the R&B Department. Their seniority confirmation has now been agreed,” Rana said.

“Similarly, our pawns and anglers community — I made a recommendation for them. Cooperative societies play an important role in supporting them and funds have been allocated to strengthen these societies,” he added.

He said the Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Animal Protection Board to streamline livestock-related regulations and welfare mechanisms.

Rana noted that the issue of daily wagers across departments was also discussed.

“The Chief Secretary has been directed to submit a report as soon as possible because there is a major issue concerning daily wagers of various categories. The government has a responsibility toward them and we want justice to be done,” he said.(KNS).