Tackling unemployment, creation of more job avenues for youth my priority: CM Mehbooba

Anantnag/April, 4: Terming unemployment as a major challenge of present times, PDP President and Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti Tuesday said creation of more job opportunities for the local youth is a priority for her Government.
Addressing workers’ meetings at Dooru and Devsar Tuesday, Mehbooba Mufti said she is already seized of the seriousness of the unemployment problem in the State and her Government is working to create as many job opportunities as possible in both Government and private sector. As part of this initiative, she said, she has also invited the corporate sector to invest in the State so that local youth are provided decent job opportunities.
Terming tourism as a game changer for the State’s economy, the Chief Minister said she has already directed that while developing a destination for tourist activities it should be ensured that the people in catchment areas become the primary beneficiaries. “Directions have been issued to concerned authorities that when they would be developing a particular tourist place, locals of the area, particularly youth, should be the first beneficiaries in terms of the service delivery or product supply”, the Party President told workers.
On the local demands of these areas, Mehbooba Mufti said given its historic importance, Verinag-the fountainhead of legendry river Jhelum-has been accorded the status of a heritage town and this year Rs. four crore would be spent on its facelift. Additionally a state of the art model hospital would be established at Dooru, she said. She said Devsar, which has its own significance and importance, would also be developed in a befitting manner. Equitable development of all areas would be ensured during the present Government as happened during the Party’s previous tenure in 2002, she asserted.
Party’s candidate for Anantnag Parliamentary constituency, Mufti Tassaduq Hussain in his speech said Nature has bestowed Kashmir with abundant beauty and he would work to see how it is properly and professionally utilized for the benefit of local youth and creating more and more employment opportunities. He appealed people to play their role in protecting local water bodies, streams and meadows from getting polluted.
In his address to workers, Chief Spokesperson, Dr. Mehboob Baig criticized the leadership of National Conference and Congress for questioning the alliance between PDP and BJP. He questioned the motives of the two Parties when they formed the Government in 2009 or when NC joined the NDA at Centre in 1999. He said Mufti Tassaduq represents the urges, aspirations and freshness of ideas of the young generation and asked the workers to work with dedication for his success.
Vice-President, Muhammad Sartaj Madni; General Secretary, Rafi Ahmad Mir, senior leaders and Minister of State for Power, Syed Farooq Andrabi and MP, Nazir Ahmad Laway also addressed the workers’ meetings.