Number of jobless youth increases in J&K

Despite the recruitment of over 2,000 people in different government departments through various recruitment agencies in the past two years, the number of educated unemployed youth crossed 70,000 till the end of last year.

"According to our figures, there are 78,490 educated unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir," said a senior state official.

The state government has identified 23,688 vacant posts under direct recruitment quota. The number of gazetted posts identified are 4884 while 14,709 non-gazetted posts in different government departments also stand identified.

Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig said the government cannot alone provide jobs to all unemployed.

"As such a strategy has been worked out where focus of attention is encouraging self-employment in the sectors of tourism, agriculture, horticulture, industries and allied sectors."

In this backdrop, the state government has already launched National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the three districts of Kupwara, Poonch and Doda.