Srinagar, Jul 04 (KNO): The Sheep Husbandry Department of Kashmir clarified on Friday that the mandatory one-year training is not a prerequisite for the promotion of Assistant Stock Men (ASMs) in the feeding cadre to Junior Shearers. However, the department said that after promotion, candidates must undergo the required training before completing their probation or advancing further.
Speaking to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the department’s Director, Rafiq Ahmad Shah explained that the training is required only after promotion, which itself depends on passing a skill test to assess the candidate’s ability in animal handling and shearing.
He said the skill test (floor test) assesses practical proficiency, and completing the training is necessary only after this qualification stage.
Shah clarified that the promotion process involves first qualifying in the shearing (floor) test. “Only after passing this test does the employee become eligible for promotion, at which point they are deputed for the mandatory training,” he said, adding that all promotions and examinations are currently under review to ensure they adhere to departmental norms.
This clarification comes after reports by KNO on Thursday highlighted that four ASMs and Multi-tasking Staff (MTS) personnel were permitted to undertake the departmental shearing test without completing the mandated one-year training.
Shah, however, said that the rules have been misunderstood, saying that the training is compulsory but only after the employee has qualified in the skill test and been promoted.
He assured that those whose training was scheduled to begin in May will now be attached to the training section accordingly—(KNO)