Srinagar, February,16 :
Chairman Jammu Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) and President Pensioners United Front, Abdul Qayoom Wani, has expressed deep concern over the government’s selective approach in pre-budget consultations, ignoring the real stakeholders from the government education sector, public sector employees, student leaders, Labour class leaders and grassroots representatives.
In a press statement, Wani termed this exclusion as unfortunate and counterproductive, stating that real reforms cannot be achieved without including those who have firsthand experience of ground realities. He questioned the parameters of selection for these so-called representatives and asked what tangible contributions they have made toward the social, educational, and economic upliftment of the region.
“If money, affiliation with power corridors, and hypocrisy are the new qualifications for representation, then so be it. But the reality is that experienced, wise, and morally upright representatives from the government sector, who have worked tirelessly in challenging conditions, are deliberately being sidelined. The government does not seem willing to listen to the truth,” Wani remarked.
Highlighting grave economic injustices, Wani pointed out that while select groups benefit from government incentives, the common people, particularly workers, teachers, contingent staff, and daily-rated laborers, are exploited. He criticized the government for failing to implement the Minimum Wages Act, leaving thousands of youth in both private and public sectors earning as little as Rs. 300 per day, with no regard for working hours, rights, or dignity.
Wani further lamented the widening divide between the rich and the poor, stating that successive governments have treated common citizens as corporate slaves. “For decades, no serious effort has been made to rehabilitate the working class. The policies have only served the privileged few, pushing marginalized sections further into despair,” he added.
Wani strongly appealed to all conscientious citizens, social reformers, teachers, religious scholars, media houses, and student representatives to raise their voices against this discriminatory approach. He stressed that true reforms demand inclusivity, and the government must recognize that no policy can succeed unless it genuinely reflects the aspirations of the people.
Addressing Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Wani urged him to fulfill the expectations of the common man, who voted for him in good faith. He reminded the CM that a democratically elected government has the moral duty to engage with real stakeholders rather than confining policymaking to a select elite. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir trusted you with their mandate. Do not disappoint them with such exclusionary strategies,” Wani asserted.
He emphasized that without fair representation, genuine consultation, and pro-people policies, any so-called reforms will remain meaningless and ineffective. Wani concluded with a call for an inclusive governance approach, where the voices of the working class, educators, and grassroots activists , religious scholars, Student leaders ,journalists,are not just heard but respected and acted upon.