Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, July, 18
Seeking 70 percent class fourth jobs in central government departments, public sector undertaking and defence establishments of civilian in nature, based in Jammu and Kashmir for the local candidates, National Conference Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana on Wednesday said that special efforts are needed to tackle the burgeoning unemployment problem in State.
“The Centre should devise a mechanism, making it mandatory for all the central government departments, public sector understandings and various defence establishments of civilian nature to ensure recruitment to at least 70 per cent class fourth vacancies from the locals of the area”, Mr Rana said while interacting with several groups of people during his extensive visit of Jagati area of Nagrota Assembly Constituency. He said the other categories of slots in such organizations can be filled through normal recruitment process with preference to the locals.
Mr Rana said that unemployment has taken alarming proportions with educated unemployed besides skilled and unskilled workforce nurturing the feeling of let down in recent years. There has to be some mechanism in tackling this situation, moreso because of the limited avenues of jobs in the state due to lack of industries and corporate sector. He said the government and public sector are major sources of employment and therefore some rationale has to be adopted, especially in the central government departments and organizations to keep some provision for locals who are major stake-holders. He cited the example of 15 Field Ammunition Depot, Kanyala in the constituency where employment of non-state subjects is made despite availability of locals. He referred to the protests lodged by youth from time to time for denying them opportunity and preferring non-locals over them in class fourth vacancies.
“This is almost the scenario with every central department and public sector undertaking functioning in the state”, he said, adding that this anomaly will have to be done away with by having some sort of allocations for the locals. He said he has also been demanding adequate job opportunities for the locals in IIT, IIM, AIIMS, banks and similar other institutions.
During his visit, the locals drew attention of Mr Rana towards several issues pertaining to utility services and allied problems, particularly with regard to regulation in power and drinking water supply.
Responding to these issues, the former MLA Nagrota assured the people that he has been pursing these with concerned agencies vigorously besides pushing the developmental agenda forcefully so that the on-going schemes are completed within stipulated time frame.
