http://www.irna.com/newshtm/eng/25124120.htm New Delhi, March 16, IRNA -- Opposition and ruling party members in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly blamed the ruling National Conference government on the acute problem of unemployment in the state. According to the Times of India, a New Delhi-based English daily, Congress member R.S. Sharma said there were "at least three hundred thousand" educated jobless youths in J&K, but the National Conference government stated that the number registered with various employment exchanges is "one hundred sixty nine thousand." Sharma said while the government had ostensibly banned fresh appointments, "backdoor appointments in all departments" were continuing without check. Other opposition members affirmed his remark. The issue was raised by a ruling National Conference Party member who wanted to know if the government planned to make ad hoc appointments in view of the swelling number of educated unemployment youths and whether it planned to raise the age limit, as many youths awaiting a government job had already cross the prescribed age. J&K Labor and Employment Minister Harbans Singh said on Friday there was no plan yet to lift the ban on fresh appointments or raise the age limit. Singh said that in view of the limited openings in government departments, the government was encouraging self-employment schemes and offering loans to individual youth and groups of youth intending to set up their own enterprises. |