Hundreds apply for posts of groundsman in Ramban

Vikas Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 3

Like Jammu district, where 799 aspirants had applied for merely seven posts of groundsman in the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports, the scenario in other districts of the Jammu division is no different.

Sources said a total of 168 district cadre posts of groundsman were notified by the Directorate of Youth Services and Sports (DYSS) with the aim to maintain the grounds in different zones of these districts that were created after reorganisation of the Sports Department in 2008.

As many as 799 candidates had applied for seven posts of groundsman in Jammu district. Applicants included participants from the national-level tournaments. The sources said in Ramban district, where seven posts were advertised, 645 aspirants applied for the posts. Jarpal Singh, District Youth Services and Sports Officer (DYSSO), Ramban, said, “Yes, it is true that more than 600 aspirants have applied for the vacant posts. A majority of the candidates, having matriculation/higher secondary qualification, were among the applicants. This was unlike Jammu district where applicants included participants from national-level tournaments.”

“Out of the 645 applications received by the department, some were rejected. Still the applications for the only seven posts were more than enough,” the sports officer maintained. The sources claimed that Rajouri, Udhampur and Poonch districts in the Jammu division have maximum posts of groundsman at 13, 11 and 10 posts, respectively. More than 500 applicants have applied for the Class IV job.

Other districts of the Jammu division having vacant groundsman posts include Samba (3 posts), Kathua (9 posts) and Kishtwar (6 posts).

The sources claimed that in the Kashmir division, Baramulla district has maximum 17 vacant posts of groundsman that were advertised for recruitment followed by Kupwara with 12 posts. Other districts include Srinagar (7 posts), Ganderbal (4 posts), Budgam (10 posts), Anantnag (5 posts), Kulgam (5 posts), Bandipora (6 posts), Pulwama (6 posts) and Shopian (3 posts).