Engineers in IIOJK urge ACP scheme implementation
Srinagar: The engineering community in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has reiterated its long-pending demand for the implementation of the Assured Career Progression (ACP) scheme, highlighting years of stagnation and lack of career advancement opportunities that have hampered morale and productivity.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the Joint Action Committee of Engineering Graduate Associations (JACEGA), representing the civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering graduate associations in the region, has presented an impassioned appeal to the Subcommittee tasked with examining issues related to the ACP and Time Bound Promotion (TBP) schemes.
The subcommittee, comprising senior administrative officials, including Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department, and Santosh D Vaidya, Principal Secretary to the Finance Department, has been urged to expedite measures to address the pressing concerns of engineers. The committee’s efforts have been widely lauded as a step in the right direction to address the glaring inequities faced by the engineering cadre.
Engineers in Jammu and Kashmir have played an instrumental role in driving infrastructure development across vital sectors, including health, water supply, road connectivity, and power. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were on the front lines, ensuring uninterrupted electricity and oxygen supplies amidst unprecedented challenges. Despite their critical contributions, career stagnation has persisted, leaving many engineers demoralised.
The demand for an ACP scheme for engineers in the occupied territory dates back over three decades. In 2018, the government announced the ACP scheme for gazetted engineers in the Union Territory as part of the Budget, but a formal Service Regulation Order (SRO) has yet to be issued. While similar schemes were promptly implemented for other cadres like the Kashmir Administrative Services (KAS) and the Kashmir Police Services (KPS), engineers continue to await the fulfilment of the government’s promise.
