J&K’s poverty puzzle: Why EWS data says 92% of poor are in Jammu, 8% in Kashmir

In J&K, the poverty issue has been brought to light by Handwara MLA Sajad Lone, who questioned the definition of poverty and how it impacts the distribution of EWS (Economically Weaker Sections) certificates. Lone pointed out that according to current definitions, 92% of EWS certificates are issued from the Jammu region, while only 8% are from Kashmir.

This stark contrast has sparked a debate on reservation in education and jobs in J&K since the Omar Abdullah government took office in October 2024. The government recently increased the reservation for various categories, including Scheduled Tribes (ST), from 10% to 20%, raising the overall reservation share to around 70%. This move has led to protests from open-merit students and prompted the formation of a Cabinet sub-committee to examine the policy.

In response to Lone's question in the Assembly, the government has filled 7,580 job vacancies in the last two years, with 758 of these jobs reserved for EWS candidates based on their region. However, Lone suggested that using other measures like Priority Household (PHH) and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration cards might provide a different perspective on poverty distribution.

PHH/AAY ration cards show that there are 37.71 lakh cards in Kashmir compared to 29.81 lakh in Jammu. If these cards were used to determine EWS job distribution, Lone argued, 417 of the 758 jobs would go to Kashmir, and 341 to Jammu. With 49,672 vacancies yet to be filled, this disparity would continue, as per Lone's calculations.