The Jharkhand Legislative Assembly witnessed heated exchanges on Saturday as opposition members pushed for extending government employees’ retirement age, only to face a clear ‘no’ from the ruling dispensation.
LJP legislator Janardan Paswan kicked off the discussion, contrasting Jharkhand’s 60-year retirement norm with 65 years for central doctors and teachers, and even local counterparts. Citing neighbor Chhattisgarh’s upgrade to 62, he stressed acute manpower gaps crippling services.
Finance Minister Radha Krishna Kishore responded decisively: ‘States decide based on unique fiscal and administrative realities. Jharkhand has no plans to alter this. Our priority is systematic recruitments for the vast pool of qualified youth under CM Hemant Soren’s vision.’ He warned that age hikes would choke entry-level opportunities.
Shifting gears, Congress MLA Rajesh Kachhap spotlighted persistent backlog vacancies reserved for marginalized groups. ‘SC/ST/OBC posts lie vacant for years, ignored in new hires,’ he charged, calling for a structured resolution.
Kishore rebutted inflated figures, noting active departmental processes. ‘Reservation rules are strictly followed; backlogs top the list. We’ve directed departments for transparent, accelerated fillings—no more than 50,000 as claimed, but all will be addressed promptly.’
As the session progressed, the government’s firm position signals a strategic pivot towards empowering young talent, potentially reshaping Jharkhand’s workforce dynamics for years ahead.