Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Jan 17: The Jammu & Kashmir Coordination Committee of Engineering Graduates on Saturday raised critical issues affecting their fraternity here.
Members demanded urgent government intervention to address recruitment delays, career progression, pay anomalies and pending placements.
Addressing a press conference here, the committee, represented by Civil and Mechanical engineering graduates Farooq Ahmad and Firdous Ahmad acknowledged improvements in departments such as Jalshakti and PWD, R&B but expressed concern over an 18-month stagnation in revitalisation initiatives.
They noted that files related to promotions at levels including AE, AW, XN, SE and Chief Engineer remain pending. The committee urged the Chief Minister, ministers, and Principal Secretary to expedite revitalisation efforts and strengthen in-charge and additional charge responsibilities.
A major demand highlighted was the implementation of Assured Career Progression (ASARO), approved in 2018 but still pending execution. Committee members warned that delays demoralize engineers, lead to early retirements and contribute to brain drain.
Members also raised pay anomalies from previous pay commissions, stressing that engineers deserve proper grades and salaries ahead of the 8th Pay Commission rollout. “Recruitment and placement delays remain another key issue, with hundreds of mechanical and civil engineers from JEE waiting 3–4 years despite existing vacancies,” they said.
The committee emphasized that these demands are legitimate and that timely government action will strengthen the engineering community and enhance public service delivery across the UT. (KNO)
