The Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) has advertised posts for photographers but sought the required qualification of diploma, the course which is not done in any college or university of the region.
The two posts – one each for Kashmir and Jammu divisions of Archives, Archeology and Museums department – were advertised last month.
The qualification required for the two posts has been mentioned as graduate with diploma in photography or videography.
The qualification criteria for the two posts has raised questions as the diploma in photography is not taught in any of the universities or colleges in the region.
The three universities in Kashmir region – University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology and the Central University of Kashmir – have post-graduate courses in journalism which includes papers on photography. Journalism and allied papers are also taught at graduation level in Kashmir region.
“Whenever there is a job vacancy for photographers at JKSSB, the eligibility criteria is diploma in photography, however, diploma courses are not provided anywhere (in JK),” said Sameer Wani, a production assistant at Department of Convergent Journalism in Central University.
“Mass communication students have specialization in photography and they are not considered for jobs even though they have experience of working with different media agencies,” said Wani, who has a master’s degree in journalism from Central University Kashmir and also a specialization in photography.
“Apart from photography I even know how to make videos and films. But someone like me is not eligible for the job,” he said.
Another master’s degree holder from Central University, Mohammad Dawood, said that he wanted to apply for the post but was not eligible for the post due to the criteria. “This is disappointing that even after having a master’s degree there is no job for us,” said Dawood who completed his master’s in Convergent Journalism in 2017.
