Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 21: The J&k National Conference today expressed dismay over the increasing unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the back-sliding of governance in the region has robbed a sense of entitlement and job opportunities for the local youth.
“The disenchantment among youth has been the most disturbing of all the causalities of the unilateral measures undertaken by the GoI on August 5, 2019,” said the Party general secretary Ali Mohd Sagar while interacting with scores of delegations at party office here today.
The delegations apprised Sagar of the widespread unemployment, administrative inertia and development deficit in their respective areas.
Among others senior Party peader Ch Mohd Ramzan, MP Akbar Lone, senior leader Ali Mohd Dar, Qaisar Jamsheed Lone, Showkat Ahmed Mir and Ahsan Pardesi were also present on the occasion.
Interacting with the delegations, Sagar said the democratic system which was ushered in Jammu and Kashmir by Sheikh Mohd Abdullah has been derailed by the brush of authoritarianism on August 5, 2019.
“Unfortunately, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir has in particular been at the receiving end of it. Unilateral and undemocratic rescinding of our constitutionally guaranteed status, disenfranchising natives from exclusive rights over land and jobs, and the smear campaign against them on media has buried their dreams; they see no light at the end of the tunnel. The dream which was sold to our youth while rescinding Articles 370, 35-A has not materialized yet. Local educated youth continue to suffer on account of shrinking opportunities, the absence of a viable employment package and incentivization of tourism, handicraft sectors has further aggravated their plight,” Sagar said.
Compounding the predicaments of educated local youth is undoubtedly the dysfunctional Government and its lackluster attitude and unawareness about plethora of issues concerning the people, Sagar said installing democracy in J&K and putting the local youth on the track of development seems unachievable in the prevailing situation due to the failure of the government in infusing trust in the local youth by making amendments in the policy of August 5.
He said the unstable political situation coupled with the widespread administrative inertia, and development deficit has heralded death to the aspirations of our youth, most of whom he said have turned to substance abuse and drug addiction.
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