Srinagar, April 6 (Scoop News) –JK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Saturday reiterated his Government’s vow to work in unison with the Union Government and the Governments of various States of the Country to ensure palatable and conducive environment for Jammu and Kashmir students, traders and employees outside the State and help them pursue their education, trade and service goals smoothly.
“I have already underlined this necessity while talking to the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and Chief Ministers of all the States”, he said elaborating that the State Government would be in continuous touch with other States in this regard besides keeping liaison with citizens of Jammu and Kashmir working outside the State.
“I have also emphasized the need for changing the mindset about Kashmiri youth prevailing in some people outside the State”, he said maintaining that Kashmiris need not to be viewed with suspicion. “They are working outside the State to earn respectable livelihood, pursue educational goals and conduct trade and business”, he added.
Speaking at a function of handing over the placement letters to the trainees who have completed training under Himayat Programme at JKEDI premises near hear, the Chief Minister asked the boys and girls to grab the opportunity of getting gainful employment in private companies under Himayat and Udaan Programmes.
Advising youth of Jammu and Kashmir to shun inhibitions of working outside the State, the Chief Minister said that there is vast field available in the Country for them to earn their livelihood and prove their talent and mettle. He said minor incidents of scuffle between Kashmiris and outsiders during day to day life process outside the State should not be given different colour and blown out of the proposition.
“Exhibit your confidence, have trust in your ability and spread all over India to be important part in the economic development and earning gainful livelihood”, he told Kashmiri youth promising handholding and full support by the State Government in this regard. “Let you prove your capacity and earn laurels for your home and the State”, he told them.
Omar Abdullah said that Himayat and Udaan introduced in Jammu and Kashmir aim at ensuring employment of youth of the State in various companies within and outside the State besides providing them necessary training and skill upgradation. “You have to come forward in large numbers to utilize the golden opportunity”, he told the unemployed youth adding that despite government’s intension to absorb over 70,000 boys and girls in government service within next couple of years, the job market for another three lakh unemployed young people have to be created and find out in the private sector. He said Himayat and Udaan are right initiative in this direction.
The Chief Minister said that the answer to unemployment crisis is not in offering government service to youth because there are not so much vacancies and avenues in government departments to absorb all the unemployed educated youth whose number is over four lakh at present. “There is already heavy pressure on State’s exchequer. We have total annual income of Rs. 6500 crore by all means and on providing salaries alone to government employees we have to incur Rs. 13500 crore annually. This can give the financial health status of the State”, he said adding that wherever possible government would continue to create jobs for youth in the government sector.
The Chief Minister also referred yet another centrally sponsored scheme ‘Umeed’ launched in four blocks of the State in first phase for welfare and empowerment of women. He said the initiative is of significant importance for ensuring organized development of women particularly in rural areas and upgrade their economic and social status.