SRINAGAR, OCT 2: A high-level delegation of the All Minority Employees Association Kashmir (AMEAK), led by its President Sanjay Koul, held a series of meetings with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, the Chief Minister’s Office and senior administrative officers, pressing for action on a range of long-pending service, pension, housing and career-related issues concerning PM Package minority employees.
The delegation’s engagements covered several key demands, with the extension of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) emerging as the principal issue. During its meeting with the Lieutenant Governor at Lok Bhavan, the AMEAK leadership submitted detailed representations concerning the service and welfare concerns of the cadre and urged intervention for extending OPS benefits to eligible PM Package employees.
During the interaction at the LG Secretariat, attended by Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari (IAS) and Private Secretary to the LG Shubhankar Pratyush Pathak, the delegation presented its case for OPS, referring to service rules, administrative notifications and judicial precedents cited by the association in support of its demand for pension coverage.
The association also sought expeditious review and implementation of the findings of the high-level committee constituted by the General Administration Department (GAD). AMEAK urged the administration to complete the pending process and issue formal orders on the recommendations so that the concerns examined by the committee reach a definitive administrative outcome.
Another major issue placed before the Lieutenant Governor was the demand for additional residential blocks or towers at Vessu Transit Accommodation in Anantnag. The delegation submitted a formal memorandum seeking expansion of the existing colony, pointing out the availability of government land within the complex. It also proposed that the required expenditure could be met through accumulated savings under ongoing transit accommodation projects.
According to AMEAK, the Lieutenant Governor gave the delegation a patient hearing and assured the representatives that the concerns of PM Package employees, including the issue relating to OPS, would be examined by the UT administration with due consideration.
Following the meeting at Lok Bhavan, the AMEAK leadership undertook a series of administrative engagements and submitted a separate memorandum to the Chief Minister’s Office seeking executive intervention for extension of the Old Pension Scheme to PM Package employees.
The delegation also met the Chief Secretary, J&K, and sought expeditious processing of the matter, including inter-departmental consultations, necessary clearances and issuance of formal government orders. A detailed representation specifically concerning OPS implementation for PM Package employees was submitted during the interaction.
At the level of the Principal Secretary, DMRRR and ACS Home, the association raised a range of welfare, administrative and operational concerns affecting the cadre and stressed the need for coordinated action among the concerned departments to address pending issues.
Housing and transit accommodation remained another major component of the delegation’s discussions. During its meeting with the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, AMEAK sought expedited physical possession, rational allotment and smooth handover of residential quarters in newly constructed transit camps across various districts.
The association maintained that timely possession of completed accommodation would provide greater residential security and stability to PM Package employees and urged the administration to remove procedural and administrative bottlenecks delaying the handover process.
The delegation also took up the status of works at Zewan Colony with the Superintending Engineer, PWD (R&B), Srinagar. The AMEAK representatives, including members from Srinagar, discussed the progress of construction and the pending Handover-Takeover process.
The association urged the department to complete testing and commissioning of lifts, inspect essential facilities and clear all remaining works on priority so that formal handover can be completed and employees can take possession of the accommodation without further delay.
The delegation also approached the Commissioner Secretary, School Education Department, and submitted a representation seeking a one-time exemption or relaxation for regularisation and entry of postgraduate degrees acquired by PM Package teaching personnel.
AMEAK argued that procedural issues concerning the recognition or entry of such qualifications should not become an impediment to the career progression and promotional avenues of eligible employees. The association sought appropriate administrative intervention to address the matter through a one-time mechanism.
In addition to its meetings with the government and administrative leadership, AMEAK representatives also placed the OPS demand before Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani. The delegation apprised them of the concerns and aspirations of PM Package employees and sought their support in taking up the matter at the appropriate level.
Addressing the cadre after the series of meetings, AMEAK President Sanjay Koul said the delegation had placed all major demands before the highest levels of the UT administration and political leadership.
Koul said the association had taken up issues ranging from OPS coverage and implementation of GAD committee findings to expansion of Vessu Colony, expedited possession of transit accommodation and one-time regularisation of PG degrees.
He said the interactions held during the day were constructive and maintained that AMEAK would continue pursuing each matter until the issues reach their logical conclusion and formal government orders are issued.
The marathon administrative outreach reflects the association’s continued effort to seek resolution of long-pending service and welfare matters affecting PM Package employees, with pension security, residential accommodation and career progression remaining among its principal demands.
