Jammu, Mar 23 (KNO): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Monday said a significant relaxation in Jammu and Kashmir's compassionate appointment policy has been adopted, extending job eligibility to families of government employees who died due to natural causes.
Speaking with reporters in Jammu, the LG, per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that 438 appointment letters have already been issued to next of kin (NoKs) under the government's support measures, many of them linked to families affected during the pandemic period.
"For a long period of time, especially during the pandemic, a large number of people lost their lives. I am aware of their pain," he said, adding that the administration is making efforts to reach out to such families.
He said Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police have been directed to expedite pending cases by forwarding them to the General Administration Department (GAD) at the earliest, while ensuring that each case undergoes proper verification.
"Every application is processed only after thorough verification and approval. We have to ensure that no ineligible person benefits from the scheme," he said.
Highlighting the key policy shift, he said that families of government employees who died natural deaths, earlier not covered under the norms, are now being included under the compassionate appointment framework after relaxation in rules.
He described the initiative as an effort to provide relief to grieving families and "heal their wounds."—(KNO)