Sajid Raina
Srinagar, Jun 22: The firefighters in the Fire & Emergency Services have expressed frustration as they await long-overdue Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) that haven’t been conducted for over a decade. The lack of promotions has left many fire stations without adequate leadership or sufficient staff, raising concerns about the department’s ability to effectively respond to emergencies.
Firefighters within the department expressed distress over the absence of career progression opportunities, with no promotions granted for the past ten years. They said the higher officials have ignored their pleas and are turning a blind eye to the issue due to which there is an immense frustration among the workforce.
The sources in the department reveal that numerous leading firemen have completed mandatory firefighting courses in Nagpur, making them eligible for the position of Sub Officers. However, despite the presence of vacant positions and an increasing number of trained firefighters each year, their promotions have been indefinitely delayed.
The situation is dire across the union territory, the officials said, adding that three districts –Baramulla, Kupwara, and Bandipora – are being run by a single Assistant Director while each district should have been led by one Assistant Director.
In an ideal setup, each district headquarter station should have an Assistant Director, followed by a Divisional Fire Officer, Station Officer, Sub Officers, and other supporting staff.
However, even the Headquarters lacks a Sub Officer, let alone other fire stations. One firefighter, eligible for promotion to the Sub Officer position, lamented waiting for over a decade to move up the ranks.
“These stations are currently managed by either selection grade fire-fighters or Hawaldars, both of whom lack the qualifications to serve as station in-charges,” he said.
As per the regulations, a Sub Officer should assume this role, but due to a lack of promotions, qualified candidates are left waiting, while lower-ranking officers run the stations. The firemen of the 2010 batch are eligible to be promoted as Selection Grade in 2020 but even after three years, they are waiting for getting promoted.
The Selection Grade firemen of the 1998 batch are waiting for the last more than one decade to become Hawaldars but they are yet to work as Selection Grade officers.
The Hawaldars 1991 batch should have been Sub Officers ten years ago but they are still working as Hawaldars when they should have been Divisional Fire Officers.
At least, 300 employees including Firemen and Selection Grade firemen were asked to sit in exams for promotion to the next level in vide order no DF&ES/Estt/DPC/01/2021-02-CC-61393 dated 29th December 2021 and results are still awaited even after about two years.
Surprisingly, in the entire north Kashmir and Ganderbal, there is only one station officer (Inspector) who is yet not confirmed as he is working as ‘in-charge’ and not confirmed yet.
The prolonged absence of promotions and the resulting staffing crisis within the Fire Services Department is raising concerns about the department’s ability to ensure public safety and respond effectively to fire emergencies.
Official sources said the “severe crisis” in career progression has taken a toll on the mental health of the employees. “Even our children taunt us for stagnation as we retire in the same grade where we were recruited,” they said. “We fail to understand if there are posts available in the department, why we are not being promoted. We are being punished for unknown reasons?”
“Efforts must be made to address this issue promptly, ensuring that deserving firefighters are recognized and given the career advancement opportunities they deserve, while adequately staffing fire stations for the safety of communities they serve,” they added.
An official while acknowledging the concerns of these firefighters assured that the grievances will be brought to the attention of higher authorities.
