Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Mar, 16
“Rather than addressing the issue of bourgeoning unemployment so as to fulfil its election time commitments, the BJP regime seemed to be hell bent to crush the unemployed, semi employed and even self employed youth in J&K. Not only had the govt refused to listen to the shrill cries of the ever swelling number of educated youth for gainful employment, but it was also using the coercive apparatus of the state to silence all voices seeking a fair deal for unemployed youth. He regretted that recent past had witnessed not only massive retrenchments in public and private sector but even the self employed youth had been rendered Jobless by seizing and confiscating their private enterprises as seen in Sidhra and elsewhere. This was stated by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister while addressing a press conference in Jammu today. Speaking to media persons, Mr. Harsh Dev reminisced the lofty promises made by BJP leadership of providing two crore Jobs per year besides atleast one govt job for each household. It gave tall slogans of youth empowerment and making them self reliant. It was however ironical to note that several thousands of working youth had been rendered jobless in govt as well as private sector during the last few years. Thousands of youth engaged on contractual, consolidated basis had been dis-engaged during the present regime. The terminated employees belonged to Health, Education, PHE, PWD, I&FC, Power besides other Deptts. Hundreds of employees engaged under proper procedure under SRO-24 in Health Deptt were terminated in the most clandestine manner. The RMSA subject specific teachers appointed after following proper selection procedure were arbitrarily terminated. The contractual teachers/lecturers in schools and colleges were being engaged and dis-engaged as per the whims and fancies of helmsmen. The Rehbar-i-Khel, NYC, NYV, NHM, MGNREGA, Asha and Anganwari workers were made to work on nominal honorarium with none to listen to their repeated cries for enhancement of emoluments and regularization.
Pointing towards the forcible confiscation and seizure of the private Shops, Khokhas and Restaurants at Sidhra by the administration, Mr. Singh regretted that hundreds of families had been deprived of their livelihood due to the insensitive approach and dictatorial action of the govt. He reprimanded the govt for its shabby treatment to BSF and CISF aspirants holding peaceful protests for redressal of their grievances.
Accusing the govt of having betrayed the educated unemployed youth as a class, Mr. Singh said that BJP had penned down its own obituary by cheating such youth.
Mr. Surinder Chouhan (District President Jammu Rural of JKNPP), Mr. Som Nath (Vice-President Panthers Trade Union) and Mr. Balwan Chand were also present in the press conference.
