‘1.5 lakh unemployed youth can be employed by tapping state resources’

Suggesting measures for generating employment of youth in Jammu and Kashmir, a study in form of letter to chief minister on Thursday revealed that by tapping state resources, around 1.5 lakh unemployed youth can be employed.

The letter written by prominent businessman Jagmohan Singh Raina to Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, suggested that the unemployment among youth can be tackled by tapping natural resources of the state.

Raina, who has been active in public life for 40 years, has said that successive governments in state have failed to redress the employment issues of the youth.

“We have not been able to channelize the energy of youth in right direction and as such they could not be provided meaningful employment. Since you took over as the chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir in March you have been emphasizing on the point that government is not in a position to provide jobs to all unemployed youth in the state,” Raina writes in his letter to CM.

“As such self employment is the only option available to generate jobs for the youth in different sectors across the length and breadth of the state.”

“I have certain suggestions with respect to the generation of self employment. My hope and belief is that if these suggestions are put to use then we will be able to provide bread and butter to 1,50,000 youth in the state. The educated but unemployed youth would no longer run after the government jobs if the suggestions are put to practice. Tourism and Fishing are the sectors that can provide jobs to youth and provide them an opportunity to live a dignified life.”

He said that there is a urgent need for creating cluster type tourist hutments in the areas which are yet to be tapped on the tourism front. In the Kashmir valley these hutments can be created at places like Naranag, Yusmarg, Doodhpathri, Aru and Tangmarg along with some other places. The scheme can be extended to Jammu division as well and places like Mantalai, Sudhmahadev, and certain areas of district Bhaderwah and Rajouri can be developed on these lines.

“Round about 150 youth can be self-employed in every cluster and there is a provision of creating 500 clusters across the length and breadth of the state. All this would be done without touching the environment and the ecological balance would be maintained all along the creation of cluster type tourism hutments.”

“Jammu & Kashmir has abundant forest cover and the green gold attracts people like anything. There are people who want to visit a place for tourism and live near the forests as well. As such if these people are provided with all the facilities near the forests they would relish the opportunity. Pre-fabricated structures with all the modern facilities need to be created in the forests so that adventurous tourists are attracted to live there. Here too the ecological balance would be maintained.”

“Heli-tourism has of late come up as yet another facet of the tourism industry across the globe. Adventure activities like para-gliding and trekking can easily be introduced on the mountains in the state. For this it is important to create recreation facilities for the people who want to enjoy para-gliding and trekking in the state. Sorties can be operated for the tourists who want to do para-gliding atop the hilltops. Such tourists would be expected to have one day stopover at these hilltops and for such they would need recreation centres. Development of kiosks and environment friendly restaurants would go a long way in attracting people to these hilltops. This would lead to generation of employment for the present generation and the generations to come.”

“Jammu & Kashmir has abundant water resources. Trout fish is the symbol of the state and same needs to be given a fillip for a better future and great returns. Water bodies or more precise tributaries of the water bodies can be developed as fish ponds where the trout fish would breed. This can be followed by the establishment of Fisheries Corporation. The Fisheries Corporation would get the produce from the youth who set up such fish ponds. The trout fish would then be exported to the outside world thus bringing revenue to the state. This would also enhance reputation of Jammu & Kashmir in the outside world.”

He said that there is a urgent need to reorganize the silk industry in the state. Modern means and techniques of silk weaving and production need to be introduced so that better results are achieved in this regard. This can generate numerous employment opportunities to the youth and restore the glory of Kashmiri silk.

“Not long ago Jammu & Kashmir was one of the leading horticulture states of India. The apples produced here were of topmost quality and there was no competition to the same. However, as on date the situation is different and we have been surpassed by Himachal Pradesh as far as production of apples is concerned. If serious thought is given then we can regain the lost prestige in this sector. Varieties like Kharoo and Ambri that have become non-existent need to be developed on scientific lines so that these get exported. At the same time there is a need to check the invasion of sprays since they have virtually destroyed the horticulture sector.

“Employment opportunities can also be created in the power sector where groups of youth can be encouraged to start mini-hydel power projects across the state. At the same time there is a tremendous scope of employment in the medicinal plants sector since the same are found in abundance across the state.”