The Congress and the BJP clashed over the issue of compassionate appointments during the question hour in the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday. Responding to a question by BJP MLA Deep Raj, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the state government would consider changes to the compassionate employment policy if required. He also accused the Opposition of turning the issue into politics.
Sukhu said the government had raised the annual income limit for compassionate appointments from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. He added that this change would help more young people qualify for jobs under this category.
He also said policies are updated as times change, and if needed, the government would bring further changes to the compassionate employment rules.
Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur demanded that the government present data on compassionate appointments made during the three years of Congress rule. He claimed that the previous BJP government had given the highest number of such jobs in the state.
He further asked the chief minister to clarify whether the age limit for compassionate employment had been raised during the previous government or not.
The Opposition continued pressing the ruling party on the subject. BJP leaders Jeet Ram Katwal and Jairam Thakur insisted that data on compassionate appointments under the current government be presented before the House. The chief minister replied that the information was being compiled and would be shared soon.
Sukhu said as part of the government’s effort to improve the system, all employment-related data would be shared in any upcoming session next year. He also said that the government had provided jobs to many youths through outsourcing and daily wage opportunities.
Jairam Thakur, citing a Congress manifesto promise, asked whether the government had fulfilled its guarantee of creating three lakh jobs in three years.
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