Jahangir Sofi
Srinagar, Nov 15: A fresh wave of hope of ‘revival’ has emerged among Jammu and Kashmir’s Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of Engineers, as the government contemplates reviving the scheme.
Top sources in the government said that a proposal for the SHG scheme’s revival has been submitted and that the updates will follow as progress is made. “Deliberations are ongoing for the revival of the SHG scheme, and a proposal has been put forward,” sources confirmed.
Er. Syed Parvaiz Safvi, President of Engineers’ group, said they have long sought the scheme’s revival since it was abolished by the Union Territory administration in 2020.
“We have been going from pillar to post to get the scheme reinstated. Over 15,000 engineers were associated with it, and the abrupt decision rendered them jobless,” he said.
Safvi highlighted the mental and financial strain caused by the scheme’s sudden cancellation, affecting not only the engineers but also their families. “The current government included the revival of SHG in its manifesto, so we are hopeful that we’ll be able to resume the work that was abruptly taken from us,” Safvi added.
Pertinently, following the scheme’s disbanding in 2020, the SHG Engineers staged several protests and press conferences, pressing for its revival. However, despite these efforts, there was no significant development from the government regarding its restoration.
Safvi described the decision to abolish the SHG Engineering Scheme (SHGES) as “unilateral,” taken by the LG administration without consulting the implementing department.
The move faced widespread criticism, as it exacerbated the unemployment problem, especially for skilled young professionals, by rendering those already earning a livelihood jobless.
Thousands of engineers, many in their late 40s and early 50s, were affected by the scheme’s cancellation, leaving them under considerable financial and personal strain.
Launched in 2003 by the then Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government, the SHG scheme was intended as an alternative employment avenue for unemployed engineering graduates in the region. The scheme reserved 30% of government construction and infrastructure upgrade projects for these groups.
Safvi added that engineers part of SHG were hopeful that this renewed focus on the scheme’s revival will lead to a positive outcome, allowing them to return to work.
