Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today that every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir is not a terrorist and they shouldn’t be looked with suspicion in other States.
“During every conference on internal security, I have been making a point that every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir is not a terrorist and shouldn’t be looked with security glasses,’’ Omar said addressing placements handing over function under Himayat programme at Zorawar Singh auditorium in Jammu University today along with Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh.
Slamming separatists and others for politicising every incident related to Kashmiris in other States, the Chief Minister gave example of recent incident of tiff between Kashmiri and Bihari students in Bangalore.
He said it was a minor issue over ragging, which some people here tried to blow out of proportion.
Same way, he said, some people tried to create trouble over suicide of Kashmiri student in Hyderabad.
Reaffirming his government’s determination to tackle unemployment crisis purposefully by providing ample avenues to youth both in Government and private sectors, Omar urged the jobless young boys and girls to utilize the opportunities created by the Government to the fullest.
“Besides, creating employment opportunities in the Government sector we have initiated various schemes like SKEWPY, Himayat and Udaan to generate employment avenues for youth in bulk”, he said adding that skill development and enhancement of employability has been flagged as focused area to enable youth to get freely absorbed in the open job market or enter into entrepreneurship arena.
The Chief Minister said that youth have to snatch every opportunity being created by the Government for them to get employment.
He said that presently over 4 lakh youth are unemployed in the State and the Government intends to appoint more than 70,000 youth in Government services from this year.
“We have to create opportunities for more than 3 lakh young persons, as such, Himayat, Udaan, SKEWPY and other projects are under implementation to expand the job market for unemployed youth”, he said underlining the importance of these projects to tackle the problem of unemployment in the State.
Omar said that Himayat is a unique programme being run in the State with the help of Centre Government aimed at imparting trainings to one lakh youth and providing them placements in the private sector within and outside the State during the period of 5 years.
“This is a significant and historic opportunity coming to youth to enhance their employability capacities and get assured jobs in the private job market. It is up to them how they take advantage of this initiative and transform their socio-economic status”, he said urging them to utilize the initiative and get employment.
The Chief Minister asked the youth to shun the inhibition of working outside the State and not get carried away by the apprehensions being created by vested interests in this regard.
He referred to the recently launched ‘Umeed’ scheme for women in the State with the Central assistance and said that it has far-reaching impact on the upliftment of women especially living in rural areas. He also mentioned the importance of Udaan project aimed at providing trainings and jobs to the youth with higher qualifications.
Assuring handholding of under training youth by the Government till the logical conclusion of providing them jobs in the private sector under Himayat and Udaan, Omar asked them to come forward and take full advantage of these initiatives sponsored by the Government of India exclusively for Jammu and Kashmir youth.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh said that the scheme Himayat launched in the State in 2011 is marching ahead confidently to realise the set goal of providing trainings and jobs to one lakh youth of Jammu and Kashmir mostly school drop-outs and lesser qualified during the five year period.
He said over 5,000 youth have been provided jobs in various companies within and outside the State since the inception of the scheme in the State and over 15,000 would be given training and placements during the year 2013-14.
Mr Ramesh announced one Tablet (Mini-Computer) each to 400 youth who have completed one year of service in the companies they were engaged under Himayat. He said that all the boys and girls completing one year service successfully in the companies would be provided Tablets.
The Union Minister said that the stipend of Rs. 1000 per month for two months being provided to the placed youth in various companies has been enhanced to Rs. 2000 per month for six months. He said the retention rate of youth in the private companies have also shown remarkable increase and at present stands at 76.42 percent.
Mr Ramesh said that under Mahila Shayata Samuh (MSS) Rs. 800 crores will be incurred on socio-economic welfare and upliftment of women in Jammu and Kashmir. He said scheme namely Umeed has been launched in this regard in the State.
Addressing the meeting, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar said that soon after taking over as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah concentrated on evolving viable strategy to address burning problem of unemployment in the State.
He said the Chief Minister took up the issue with the Prime Minister and other Central leaders, which resulted in the award of Himayat and Udaan schemes for youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
The function was also addressed by Minister of State for Industries and Home, Sajjad Ahmad Kitchloo.
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