Jammu, March 22
Even as the number of unemployed youth has officially swelled to a staggering 6 lakh, a series of employment generation schemes announced by the Centre as well as the state government for enhancing job opportunities have elicited a dismal response in Jammu and Kashmir.

Be it the state government’s Sher-e-Kashmir Employment & Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) or the Government of India’s much-touted ‘Udaan’ and ‘Himayat’ schemes aiming to target around 2 lakh youth of the state, the placement record has remained abysmal under these job plans despite the fact that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest unemployment rate in north India.

Official sources said a total of 5,94,172 youth had been registered at various district-level employment exchanges across the state till September 2012. Of the registered unemployed youth, 3,12,977 were from Kashmir region and 2,81,195 from Jammu division.

“Under SKEWPY launched in December 2010, an amount of Rs 26.58 crore stands disbursed during the current financial year up to January 2013 as Voluntary Service Allowance (VSA) for providing social security to 48,943 registered educated unemployed youth in the age group of 26 to 37 years with annual family incomes below Rs 1.5 lakh. Last year, a total of 36,137 unemployed youth were covered under VSA and they were given financial assistance of Rs 24.83 crore,” sources said.

Sources said around 177 counselling sessions covering 4,518 youth had been completed during current fiscal upto December 2012. “This programme has received a poor response from youth owing to a paltry stipened on monthly basis,” said sources.

Similarly, the central government’s much-hyped job plan Special Industry Initiative for J&K (JKSII) - which was later renamed as “Udaan”, has also received a poor response from youth since its inception in Jammu and Kashmir.

“Anchored by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India and being implemented by National Skill Development Corporation, the scheme was aimed at providing skills and enhancing employability for 8,000 youth of Jammu and Kashmir every year for the next five years. As per the latest update available, out of 185 trained candidates, 110 have been offered jobs while 481 are undergoing training and another 294 candidates have been selected for training,” said sources.

Sources said procedural glitches and poor response from youth had forced the Centre to go for fresh ground work on the scheme while 19 private organisations and six PSUs had committed to provide training to over 25,000 candidates of the state during a period of five years.

The total budget of the scheme is Rs 1,000 crore in five years. Under the scheme, graduates and post-graduates, who are trained and placed by corporate partners outside J&K, would be targeted. There are more than 85,000 graduates and 20,000 post graduates registered with various employment cells in the state.

Another major job plan of the Union Government - Jammu and Kashmir Skill Employment and Empowerment Scheme (JKSEE) - was announced on August 21, 2011, and it was envisaged to impart “placement-linked and market driven skill training” to 1 lakh youth in five years (nearly 20,000 per year).

“Against the targets, a meagre 5,774 candidates have been trained, 3,138 have been placed and another 3,100 are under training under Himayat scheme,” said sources.

They said the number of registered job-seekers had increased from 1,06,130 in 2008 to 5.94 lakh in 2012, which has accounted for an increase of 459.85 per cent. “The state government should formulate a strong and comprehensive policy to tackle the growing problem of unemployment, which has become a serious issue in the state due to non-availability of industrial and private sector,” said sources.

Jammu, March 22
Jammu and Kashmir government has admitted its failure to curb begging in the state, as no children or beggar homes have been established for rehabilitation of people engaged in seeking alms. Begging is banned by the law under J&K Prevention of Beggary Act 1960.

Replying to a calling attention notice of MLC BR Kundal in Legislative Council (LC), J&K Home Department has said begging causes tremendous annoyance to the public, but due to turmoil in the past two decades, the infrastructure for the sick and beggars and children homes could not be set up, on account of which, enforcement of the Act has not been possible in letter and spirit.

Sub-Section 4 of Section 5 of the Act provides that if a person is declared a beggar by a court, it would order his detention in a special home established by the government.

Rajouri, March 22
To observe World Water Day, Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University held a programme at Centre for Biodiversity Studies wherein importance of freshwater, its sustainable management and conservation were highlighted.

The day-long activities included theme-based poster and collage making competitions, inspirational speeches by the scholars and awareness programme on the importance of conservation of water resources.

During the function, Prof Irshad A Hamal, Vice Chancellor, was the chief guest while Prof GH Dar, Fellow Mahatma Gandhi Chair on Ecology and Environment, Dr Susheel Verma, Dr AA Shah Associate Professors, Suneet Gupta, Special Secretary to Vice Chancellor, Mamta Bhat Assistant Professor, research scholars and students were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Hamal stressed on national and international water cooperation for survival of mankind. He also suggested implementation of rainwater harvesting, as a good quantum of water gets wasted before it is put to use. He urged participants to save fresh water bodies from getting polluted and misused.

Eighteen students and research scholars from the biosciences department and the Engineering College participated in the day-long event.

While felicitating the students, Hamal congratulated the Centre for Biodiversity Studies for having organised the event and advised regular conduct of such activities to develop all-round personality of students.

Batote, March 22
World Water Day was celebrated by the Leighton Welspun Contractors Pvt Ltd (LWCPL), an Australian company constructing the Chenani-Nashri highway, with the students of Government High School, Dhalwas and Primary School, Gujad, Chenani in Ramban and Udhampur districts today.

In a programme presided over by John Du Plessis, senior manager, Health Safety and Environment (HSE), LWCPL, Nishant Kumar, manager, HSE, dwelt on the importance of fresh water, sustainable management of its resources and its conservation in the wake of growing scarcity in the world.

On the occasion, a poster making competition was also organised. The first three winners of the competition were given prizes and citations by Plessis. At Chenani School, chief guest Neel Kamal Singh, deputy manager, HSE, gave away the prizes to the first three winners of a declamation contest, in presence of CS Gupta, HR manager, LWSCPL and Nishant Kumar.

The headmasters, Abdul Rehman and Chanchal Devi, moderated the programmes at Dhalwas and Chenani respectively. On the recommendation of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) the United Nations General Assembly had designated March 22, 1993 as the first World Water Day. A specific aspect of fresh water is highlighted each year on this day.

This year’s theme is ‘International Year of Water Cooperation’ and the day is being coordinated by UNESCO, in collaboration with UNECE and UNDESA on behalf of UN-Water. — OC

Jammu, March 22
All J&K Transporters Joint Action Committee has expressed concern over neglect of transporters by state government. The members condemned over-loading in carriage vehicles, especially in trucks. A meeting was held under the presidentship of Harasis Singh Kranti, president of the committee, and co-presided by Chairman, Vinod Sawhney.

Kranti, while making an appeal to the state government for ensuring proper check on the menace of overloading in the trucks on different routes of Jammu and Kashmir, demanded enhancement of the carriage charges in keeping with inflation in India and particularly in Jammu and Kashmir. He said at present, it is very difficult for the transporters to run and maintain their vehicles with the prevailing carrying charges. He also demanded complete abolition of contractual system in the trade and stated that it has further added to the sufferings of the genuine transporters as lowest rates are being provided to the transporters for utilising their services.

He said despite the fact that lakhs of people are directly and indirectly earning their livelihood through this trade, the state machinery is keeping silence on the issue.

The transporters’ body also alleged there is no check on insurance companies that are arbitrarily enhancing their premium without any justification.

Rajouri, March 22
A Gojri play Qabiloo - based on nomadic lifestyles of Gujjar-Bakerwal tribes, was staged here today. Top dignitaries of Gujjar and Bakerwal community, including local writers, poets and intellectuals, drawn mainly from twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri, were present on the occasion.

Organised by Tribal Research and Cultural Foundation, the show was held at Himalayan Education Mission auditorium, a few kilometres from Rajouri town.

The play was written and directed by Shokat Naseem and today’s production was supported by Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It was staged in collaboration with North Zone Cultural Centre Patiala.

Dr Javaid Rahi, Secretary, Tribal Foundation, while welcoming the audience, said Gujjars have strong traditions of performing arts including folk theatrical inheritance and through this production, which emerged after a 15-day workshop, the main folk elements of Gujjar-Bakerwal heritage were incorporated in the play. This was the first show of this play and more shows will be staged in tribal areas of the state, Dr Rahi added.

Versatile Urdu and Gojri poet Dr Sabir Mirza, who presided over the programme, stated the play was full of variety and the vibrancy of nomadic Gujjar culture was portrayed properly and forcefully, which is appreciable.