JKPC chief Sajad Lone highlights official data mismatch on poor population in J&K’s regions, seeks one definition

J&K People’s Conference (JKPC) chief and legislator Sajad Lone on Monday, March 30, 2026, highlighted the inconsistencies between Jammu divisions and Kashmir division in notifying the population of poor families and demanded a new definition of “who is poor” in the Union Territory (UT).

Speaking in the J&K Assembly, Mr. Lone said official data on how many poor families live in the two districts of Kashmir and Jammu contradicted his figures, calling it a “structural flaw that undermines equity in the distribution of employment and wealth”.

“According to the J&K Food Department, around 39 lakh in Kashmir and 27 lakh in Jammu have been identified as Below Poverty Line and poor under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). In stark contrast, the Social Welfare framework suggests an inverted reality where 90% in Jammu are classified as economically poor compared to just 10% in Kashmir,” Mr. Lone told the House.

Mr Lone said this was “not just a statistical confusion but a policy failure with real consequences”. “Recent recruitment results, including the Judiciary and Kashmir Administrative Services elections, have witnessed disparities historically never seen since 1947. Although facts suggest otherwise, the mismatch in definitions is systematically disadvantageous to Kashmir in the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) quota,” Mr. Lone said.

He said a person is poor when receiving rations or subsidies, but suddenly becomes ‘rich’ when applying for a job. “This dichotomy undermines both logic and fairness, revealing a fragmented administrative approach. With the government announcing the upcoming 30,000 jobs, a very small portion of the existing EWS framework, probably less than 100 positions, will reach Kashmir,” Mr. Lone said.

He cited states like Kerala that have rationalized their EWS criteria by aligning it with revenue or public distribution system data. “Many states have moved away from strict asset-based criteria and instead adopted income-linked or PDS-based frameworks,” he added.

Mr. Lone criticized the J&K government for not reviewing its criteria, “thus depriving thousands of Kashmiri youth of their rightful access to opportunities under the EWS category, an issue he stressed needs urgent attention”.

He called on the government to find a single definition and formulate a clear policy. “This is an urgent need,” Mr. Lone added.