ERC demands to fill-up vacant posts

Ferozepur, August 30, 2012: The Education Reforms Committee (ERC), which is known for its fearless opinion on education and social issues, has demanded from the  Punjab Government to fill-up all the vacant posts in  all the  departments especially the agriculture,  to take care the interests of farmers.
Speaking to media,  Hans Raj, Spokesperson of Education Reforms  Committee, Punjab said, “Punjab Government is continuously making a  public proclamation about the free electricity supply and other  agriculture inputs and subsidies and centre government is being  accused for the state of affairs of farmers in Punjab but how much the  state government is serious about improving their conditions, can be  well imagined from the fact that to look after the 27.80 lakh thousands  acres area under cultivation in Punjab, There are number of posts  lying vacant in soil-conversation, agriculture and horticulture  departments”.
He further said that so far none of the government has bothered about  the filling up of vacant posts in these departments.  A draught relief  of Rs.5113 crores has been demanded from the central government but to  give a practical shape to the various suggestions, for sowing wheat and paddy, there are no employees. In the absence of technical staff  in the three departments, the farmers cannot be given the expert  advice and motivated for diversification of crops, which could help to  solve farmer's related problems.
As per the information, in the three important departments concerning  farmers’ welfare - soil-conversation, agriculture and horticulture -  1123 posts are lying vacant against the total sanctioned 1934 posts.  In soil-conversation department 159 posts, in agriculture 866 and in 
horticulture 98 posts are vacant.
"One can well understand the uncertain weather conditions and draught  like situation but keeping the posts vacant in three important  department,  is not digestible and beyond farmer’s understanding.  The condition of farmer is deteriorating day by day but centre and state governments are in the race of making numbers for giving  financial assistance in the draught like situation in Punjab",  said  ERC members.
The Education Reforms Committee demands from the Punjab Government to  take up the matter with the central government for the interests of  farmers in Punjab and should not shirk its own duties because the  filling up the posts in the departments especially Agriculture for 
taking care of the farmers, is the responsibility of the state  government because the agriculture department  is the back-bone of   Punjab and the posts in this department should be filled-up on priority.

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