The Jammu and Kashmir government presented data in the Legislative Assembly indicating a significant gap in the distribution of reserved category certificates between Jammu Division and the Kashmir Valley. The figures unveiled a notable regional imbalance in the allocation of such certificates across the two divisions. This information was shared in response to a cut motion put forth by Peoples Conference (PC) president and MLA Sajad Gani Lone.
The data showcased that Jammu division predominates in almost all seven reserved categories, with pronounced differences particularly evident in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) segments. In the ST category, out of a total of 7,49,970 certificates issued in the Union Territory, a substantial majority of 6,93,781 were provided in Jammu, representing more than 92.5 percent. Conversely, only 56,189 certificates, equivalent to 7.4 percent, were issued in Kashmir division.
The gap widens further in the SC category, where an overwhelming majority of 1,39,664 certificates (over 98 percent) were granted in Jammu out of the total 1,41,419 SC certificates issued. In contrast, Kashmir accounted for merely 1,755 certificates, constituting a mere 1.24 percent. However, in the Reserved Backward Area (RBA) category, the data indicates a nearly equal distribution, with Jammu receiving 50.5 percent and Kashmir 49.4 percent of the 1,00,848 certificates issued.
Under the Actual Line of Control (ALC) category, a total of 7,192 certificates were issued, with 93.6 percent allocated to Jammu and 6.3 percent to Kashmir. Notably, all 6,732 International Border (IB) certificates were exclusively issued in Jammu division. In the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, Jammu led with 59.8 percent of the 78,324 certificates, while Kashmir accounted for 40.2 percent with 52,652 certificates. The data underscores disparities in the distribution of reserved category certificates, with Valley-centric politicians emphasizing broader implications for representation and access to government benefits in Jammu and Kashmir.
