CMIE report about unprecedented rate of unemployment most worrisome: Hakeem

Srinagar| : Chairman People’s Democratic Front ( PDF) Hakeem Yaseen has expressed serious concern over the unprecedented rise in unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir adding that the latest Survey of Center for Monitoring India n Economy ( CMIE) conducted during November 2021 has placed disturbing survey data that J&K stands second to have highest rate of unemployment at 21.4 across the country as against the national rate of 7 percent. He has urged Centre and state governments to launch special recruitment drive in Jammu and Kashmir to fill up existing large number of vacancies in various government departments.
In a statement issued on Friday Hakeem while expressing concern over the alarming rate of unemployment prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir ,has demanded a special employment package for the unemployment youth to protect them from the cobweb of drug menace due to mental depression . He said due alarming level of unemployment, youth of Jammu and Kashmir see their future bleak and fall easy prey to drug mafia and other social crimes. He has urged the Centre and J&K Government to rise to the occasion to save the creamy layer of educated youth from getting ruined on the hands of drug mafia. Demanding early Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Hakeem said that lackadaisical approach of the bureaucracy in absence of absence of a democratically elected popular government was also one of reasons for non filling of vacant posts in various government departments .He said administration has failed to fill up 50000 vacancies on fast track basis which had been identified two years ago . He said Centre was doing only lip service to create jobs for youth of Jammu and Kashmir adding that their assurances in this regard were far from reality on the ground zero .
PDF Chairman has appealed the Central Government especially Prime Minister to announce a comprehensive employment package for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, if he was serious to remove ‘Dil Ki Doori – Delhi Say Doori ‘.” Youth of Jammu and Kashmir have pinned high hopes at the Centre for sanctioning a special employment package ‘ Hakeem Yaseen said adding that Centre should come up to their expectations. ” Back to back lockdowns on account of Covid-19 and uncertainty emerging post 5 August ,2019 have adversely affected tourism and trade activities in Jammu and Kashmir which were main employment generating sectors ,” Hakeem observed adding that a special Central employment package for the youth
was an urgent need of the hour . He said employment package, if announced by the Centre , would help to a great extent to bring the youth close to mainstream . ” If adequate measures are not taken to channelize youth towards constructive activities , provide , there were apprehension that they could easily fall prey to drug mafia and anti social elements,” Hakeem maintained . Quoting that ‘ Idle man’s brain is devil’s workshop , PDF leader said that youth should be engaged in a positive direction so that drug mafia and anti – social elements do not get any chance to exploit our youth .