Irfan Hussain
The decades of sufferings have finally come to an end in Jammu and Kashmir as the employment opportunities has increased manifold in the Union Territory especially after the abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K State into two Union Territories in August, 2019.
The recruitment rallies, advertisement of posts has brought a cheer among the youth in Jammu and Kashmir, who would otherwise wait for a long time to seek jobs and were moving from pillar to post to earn their livelihood.
Such a situation had only increased the rate of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, which had not only put the burden on the State, but also put psychological pressure on the educated but unemployed youth in the Union Territory.
After a long time, the youth in the Union Territory could hear something for them after the Lieutenant Governor led administration here announced his regime’s plans following the assurance given by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about 50,000 jobs to the unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir.
A comprehensive plan is in offing for filling up 25,000 vacancies while 10,000 posts have already been advertised and the examinations by Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board stands already conducted. In the exams conducted on February 27, 28 and March 01this year, a total of 3.28 lakh youth appeared, which shows the enthusiasm among the youth towards the new era and positivity of change from stones to earning livelihood.
Not only this, but the administration is also planning to come up with fresh recruitment drives for Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), paramilitary forces and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
Besides, the Army has already come up with the recruitment rallies in all the districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The posts of Soldier General Duty (All Arms), Soldier Technical, Soldier Technical Nursing Assistant (AMC) / Nursing Assistant Veterinary, Soldier Clerk / Store Keeper Technical (All Arms), Soldier General Duty and others were announced in almost all the districts of the Union Territory.
These announcements and the drives have finally provided a sigh of relief among the youth, whose stress level has decreased to a large extent. Such recruitment drives have not only provided employment to the youth here, but also reduced the drug menace, which is the outcome of the rising unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the unemployment rate in J&K was highest at 12.13 per cent in India. However, the rate had gone up further. Nonetheless, J&K has witnessed a dip in unemployment rate from 16.1 per cent in September 2020 to 9 percent in March 2021. There is a visible achievement on the ground as J&K has less unemployment rate than Delhi, Goa, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan.
Every department deserves credit for reducing the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir as per the directions of the incumbent administration; the pending selection lists for different posts were too announced.
In one such instance, the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) department too made the selection list of the candidates who appeared for different posts was also made public, which otherwise was hanging in balance for a long time.
Besides, the government has been identifying all the vacant posts in various departments of Jammu and Kashmir to fill and start a fresh recruitment drive in this regard to fill the gap and reduce the unemployment rate further.
Interestingly, the government is showing keen interest in accelerating the employment rate in the newly carved Union Territory as five lakh youth are set to get employed under the New Industrial Policy, unveiled by the present administration.
With five lakh jobs in next coming years, the unemployment rate is all set to decrease further.
There are many more initiatives taken by the government, which would help in reducing the unemployment rate. In a recently unveiled new Industrial Policy 2021-30, the government has decided to invite reputed Industrial houses and potential investors from within and outside the Union Territory (UT) to promote Jammu and Kashmir as an ideal investment designation.
Such a policy would definitely open means and ways for the unemployed youth to get new employment opportunities.
The youth have shown a positive response over the initiatives taken by the government and thus simultaneously putting more responsibility on the shoulders of the administration to continue to come up with the recruitment drives and fresh jobs besides filling the vacant posts so that the present 9 per cent unemployment rate is curbed and reduced to zero.
(The author is Executive Editor Lake City Times)
