Nearly five lakh youth unemployed in J&K: Government

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today said that nearly five lakh unemployed youth have been registered with the Employment Exchange, while just over 33,500 youth have been provided jobs in the government sector.

In a written reply to a question by National Conference legislator Dr Bashir Ahmad Veeri in the Legislative Council here, Minister for Labour and Employment Ajay Sadhotra stated that 4,88,846 unemployed youth have been registered in the state as of January 2013.

Sadhotra added that 33,518 youth have been provided employment in government sector, besides 95,637 jobs have been generated in private sector under self-employment schemes.

Asked how many job opportunities were created under schemes like Sher-E-Kashmir Employment & Welfare Programme for the Youth (SKEWPY), Udaan and Himayat since their launch, Sadhotra informed that 95,637 job opportunities have been created in private sector under SKEWPY in respect of Jammu and Kashmir Self Employment Scheme ( JKSES), Seed Capital Fund Scheme, Women Entrepreneurship Programme, Tourism and Animal and Sheep Husbandry sectors.

Replying to another question, the minister assured that the target of providing five lakh employment opportunities under SKEWPY for five years, since its inception in 2009, will be achieved in full.

Sadhotra, meanwhile, informed that the government has approved engagement of 43,000 casual/seasonal labours in different departments.