Baramulla, Nov 13: Senior Vice President of J&K People’s Conference (PC) and former minister, Abdul Gani Vakil expressed serious concern over the rising issue of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir, which he said was leading the youth towards drug addiction.
According to a statement, Vakil during his tour and addresses at workers’ meetings in various villages of Rafiabad and Sopore, including Doabgah, Seelu, Gonipora, Warpora, and Watergam, Vakil highlighted the severity of the problem.
He said the unemployment crisis has taken a dangerous turn, with the youth increasingly falling prey to drug abuse. He warned that if urgent measures are not taken to address this issue, the lives of the youth will be ruined, which no country or state can afford.
The former minister criticised the UT government, saying that the promises made to unemployed youth have proven to be ineffective. Despite assurances from the present Lt Governor Manoj Sinha regarding job creation for thousands of unemployed youth, Vakil asserted that these promises remained mere statements without tangible results.
He said several departments announced job opportunities and unemployed youth applied for these positions, only to have their application forms discarded without any progress.
The PC leader said the lack of employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir is not only a threat to the well-being of the youth but also contributes to increasing alienation from the mainstream, which is not in the national interest.
He appealed to the Central government and UT administration to formulate a concrete job policy for the unemployed youth of J&K, saying such a policy is crucial to prevent further suffering among the youth and to address the rising issue of drug abuse.
