Jammu, April 6 Chief Minister Omar Abdullah handed over appointment orders to 124 candidates from the Jammu division under the rehabilitation assistance scheme on Monday, urging the appointees to serve with dedication, integrity, and compassion.
Expressing solidarity with the families, the CM said the appointments were aimed at providing support and stability during difficult times and asked the beneficiaries to carry forward the legacy of service of their loved ones with dignity and commitment.
"The appointees should serve with dedication, integrity, and compassion, and carry forward the legacy of service of their loved ones with dignity and commitment," Abdullah said while addressing the gathering here.
He reiterated that these appointments are a step towards ensuring support and stability in difficult times.
Abdullah said such occasions were usually moments of great joy for recipients, but also served as reminders of responsibility. “Generally, for someone, receiving a government order is perhaps the happiest day of their life. But when I look at my responsibilities and feel that I fall short, it feels strange to me,” he said.
He noted that unlike routine recruitment processes involving examinations and interviews, the beneficiaries under the scheme had endured far greater hardships.
“For you, this has not been just a simple test. To obtain your orders, you have had to pay a heavy price—something far more difficult than any examination. Compared to what your families have gone through, clearing exams like IAS, IFS or IPS seems easier,” he said while referring to the loss of their kith and kin.
Highlighting the need for administrative efficiency, Abdullah said he wanted the process of issuing appointment orders to be expedited. “It should not happen in the future that such orders take a long time to be issued. The situation is better than before, but change cannot come all at once,” he added.
The CM said the government was committed to addressing pending issues and concerns across districts and blocks, while maintaining that the focus of such programmes was service rather than politics. “We are here to assure you of our commitment in this difficult time. Whatever we can do, we will serve the people,” he said.
He said that as far as political matters are concerned, “we are not here to engage in politics or to talk about what our government has done or not done. We are here to assure you of our trust and commitment, especially in this very difficult time. Whatever we can do, we will serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir. It will be our responsibility to continue serving you for as long as we are here.”
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by people at the grassroots level, particularly those coming from remote areas. “Many of you have come from far-off districts. You understand the hardships on the ground and what needs to be done to overcome them,” he said.
Advising the new appointees to remain steadfast in their duties, Abdullah cautioned against taking shortcuts. “Some people may try to lead you on the wrong path. You may feel tempted to choose the easier way, but remember—the satisfaction that comes from overcoming hardships can never be matched by taking the easy route,” he said.
Referring to his own experience, he said that age and exposure had taught him the value of perseverance. “The hardships you face while choosing the difficult path are real, but even the easy path has its own challenges. The difference lies in what you learn and achieve from them."
Reiterating his commitment to the people, Abdullah assured that efforts would continue to improve governance and ensure better service delivery across Jammu and Kashmir.