National Conference Provincial President Mr Devender Singh Rana today demanded protection of government jobs for locals in Jammu and Kashmir, saying unemployment has alarmingly grown manifold during the recent years.
“J&K government jobs are for local educated unemployed and should be reserved for local youth only”, the Provincial President said while talking to media persons at the sideline of grand and impressive Nagar Kirtan here this afternoon, held as part of the Prakash Diwas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Guru of Sikhs.
Mr Rana expressed concern over limited avenues of employment, saying a thrust is needed to be laid on fast track recruitment process and to put in place a robust mechanism of employability. A roadmap had already been drawn in this regard few years back, which he regretted to have fallen prey to political myopism.
The Provincial President said the administration should launch a pro-active and fast-track drive by making designated agencies accountable to fill up the large number of vacancies in various departments to address to the burgeoning unemployment rate among local youth. He said the vacancies have neither been notified or advertised during the past few years now, causing despondency among educated unemployed, many of whom are turning over aged for government jobs. In the meantime, all the departments should notify for information of the unemployed educated the number of vacancies in all the categories, he added.
He also demanded special drives for time bound recruitment in remote and far off areas.
Earlier, the Provincial President joined thousands of devotees in the Nagar Kirtan, which was greeted thousands of people on both side of the road by showering flower petals.
Accompanied by senior party leader including Mr Rattan Lal Gupta, Mr Trilochan Singh Wazir, Th Rachpal Singh, Babu Ram Pal, Mr Gurdeep Singh Sasan, Mr Dharamveer Singh Jamwal and others, the Provincial President said such auspicious occasions form core of our composite pluralistic culture and rich heritage. This spirit is needed to be sustained, promoted and bequeathed to generations for harmonious growth of the humanity, he added.
The Nagar Kirtan comprised men, women and children, who were reciting kirtan while youngsters played Ghatka. Hundreds of people on both sides of roads greeted the Nagar Kirtan.
Greeting the people, Mr Rana said that Guru Gobind Singhji relentlessly fought against inequality and superstitions and established the Khalsa Panth. Through his poetry, Guruji preached love, equality and ethical as well as moral code of conduct, he said, hoping that Gurupurab would be more meaningful if the people take time to reflect upon the life and teachings of Guruji, which apply today more than ever.
The Provincial President also hoped that Prakash Utsav of Guruji would be observed in the true spirit of the State’s composite culture and prayed for peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir.