Srinagar | WTNS | Hakim Suhail Abbas | Feb 20:Basic Horticulture trainees (BHT) from SKAUST-K staged a protest against the administration for the revocation of the posts for which they were earlier eligible.

Scores of Basic Horticulture trainees on Saturday held a silent protest at Press Enclave Srinagar against reframing eligibility criteria of certain posts which they were earlier eligible and they urged upon govt. to revoke the order to save their future.

While talking to Wilayat Times one of the protestor namely Javid Ahmad said “We pursued the Basic Horticulture Trainee (BHT) course because we all were well aware that we will be eligible for the posts of technicians. Last year the government advertised 211 posts for which only BHT aspirants were eligible. The aspirants further said that these degree holders are eligible for gazetted and other high rank posts.

The protestors were holding placard and banner on which slogans and demands were written.

The BHT from SKAUST-K appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and demanded immediate revocation of said order.

Basic Horticulture Trainees said that According to earlier notification they were eligible for the post of Technician with 10+2 & basic horticulture training course through SKUAST but later another notification made them ineligible for the post.

The protestors said SSB portal had published a notification for applying of Post ” Horticulture technicians IV” whose basic eligible criteria in previous years was 10+2 with 1 year BHT ,but this year PHD ,BSc research students were introduced as Eligible criteria for this class 4th post which is injustice with us.

The BHT from SKAUST-K appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to intervene into the matter and demanded immediate revocation of said order.

Meanwhile Apni Party senior leader and former minister Mohammad Dilawar Mir urged the Lt. Governor led J&K government to address the genuine grievances of BHT trainees who feel discriminated against by the administration under the pressure of horticulture degree holders.

Mir said that the government must not sabotage their prospectus for a dignified livelihood and strike a balance between the horticulture graduates who want to become eligible for these posts exclusively meant for BHT trainees.

He said that there exist myriad options in the department of horticulture for the graduates to apply in but they reportedly taken a bizarre stand to apply for the class fourth posts for which BHT category is primarily eligible.

“These protesters from SKUAST-Kashmir are degree holders who are eligible for any gazette rank posts according to the level of their qualifications like HDO, Senior Technician, Canning Inspector, etc. While these degree holders have every right to apply for any posts as per their eligibility but the government must ensure that there is no injustice caused to BHT trainees,” Mir observed.

He assured the BHT trainees that he will advocate their case before the higher authorities and will impress on them to take all the necessary steps to safeguard their rightful interests.

“I urge the administration and the department of horticulture to seriously consider the matter of this young adroit lot at an earliest and make ways to mitigate their sufferings at an earliest,” Mir demanded.