JAMMU MAY 23 (KNS): Former minister and senior National Conference leader Mr Ajay Kumar Sadhotra today criticized the anti-youth policies of the BJP Government and sought immediate rollback of the decision of re-advertising the posts the Rehbar-e-Khel (physical education), Rehbar-E-Janglat (forest department), Rehbar-e-Zirat, National Youth Corps (NYC) schemes, in view of the candidates working against these slots for the past nearly five years.
“What an irony; those yearning for regularization are facing the ugly prospect of uncertain future despite having put in their best since their engagement or appointment” and have overaged, Mr Sadhotra said in a statement.
He expressed solidarity with the incumbents working against these posts and their families, saying they cannot fall victim to the whims and fancies of the BJP Government, which has failed in evolving any policy towards youth. While those engaged on daily rated, contractual and adhoc basis are also struggling for regularization over the years, the whopping number of educated unemployed are feeling perpetual sense of denial and despondency due to burgeoning unemployment problem, which has taken alarming proportions post pandemic times. He decried the ‘use and throw’ policy of the government while referring to retrenchment of various category of which worked during difficult times and served the people.
Mr Sadhotra said thousands of youth were engaged as Rehbar-e-Khel and Rehbar-e-Janglat, Rehbar-e-Zirat, National Youth Corps (NYC) in pursuance of a cabinet decision and such arrangements cannot be dispensed with at will. The BJP Government must show some sort of sensitivity while dealing with such sensitive issues which directly relate to the future of the youth. He hoped that the whimsical and anti-youth attitude of the BJP Government will be taken over by sagacious approach.
Mr Ajay Sadhotra said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are passing through most difficult time, not only with regard to unemployment but uncertainty about their exclusive claim on jobs as permanent residents on whatever little avenues are available here. He asked the government to come up with a pragmatic mechanism to address these important matters in tandem with the sentiments and aspirations of the youth of J&K, who are genuinely feeling a sense of denial, deprivation and politico-economic disempowerment.
The governments, both at the Centre and here are not walking the talk, which has created a situation for the youth, who are at the receiving end.
Mr Sadhotra also appealed to the Government to address the issues of educated unemployed, skilled and unskilled workforce in general and Rehbar-e-Janglat, Rehbar-e-Khel, Rehbar-e-Zirat and National Youth Corps (NYC) in particular. They deserve immediate governmental attention, as they feel pushed to the wall and are forced to hit streets in support of their demands, he added.(KNS)