📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rayedashraf
Politics
J&K Leader Sajad Lone Calls for Uniform Poverty Definition, Challenges EWS Criteria
✍️ Kashmir Life
🗓 01 Oct 2026, 08:36 PM
👁 12
Sajad Lone has questioned the criteria used for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) in Jammu and Kashmir and urged a single, uniform definition of poverty across the state and centre.
Jammu and Kashmir political leader Sajad Lone raised concerns about the current criteria used to identify beneficiaries under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) scheme. He argued that the lack of a consistent definition of poverty creates disparities in the allocation of reservations in jobs and educational institutions.
Lone called on both the state administration and the central government to adopt a uniform metric for poverty that can be applied uniformly across all districts of the union territory. He said such a standard would ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the support without regional bias.
The leader’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the implementation of the EWS reservation, which was introduced to expand affirmative action for economically disadvantaged groups. No official response has been recorded yet, and the issue is expected to be debated in upcoming policy meetings.
Stakeholders, including civil society groups, have previously highlighted the need for clearer guidelines, echoing Lone’s demand for a transparent and uniform poverty assessment framework.
Lone called on both the state administration and the central government to adopt a uniform metric for poverty that can be applied uniformly across all districts of the union territory. He said such a standard would ensure that the intended beneficiaries receive the support without regional bias.
The leader’s remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the implementation of the EWS reservation, which was introduced to expand affirmative action for economically disadvantaged groups. No official response has been recorded yet, and the issue is expected to be debated in upcoming policy meetings.
Stakeholders, including civil society groups, have previously highlighted the need for clearer guidelines, echoing Lone’s demand for a transparent and uniform poverty assessment framework.