After the debacle in the
Parliamentary elections to the ruling N.C & Congress alliance, when the Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah introspected about this debacle, he come to know that the
youth, govt.employees & common man’s aspirations have not been fulfilled by the
ruling alliance, as a result they did not vote to the ruling alliance in the
state. C.M sought the opinion on e-mail to rectify this misdoings. People sent
their messages on the e-mail but the maximum number of the mails were of the
youth, who categorically voiced against the new recruitment policy of the state.
They termed it as dark future policy for youth. They said that youth of the
state are depressed by this policy & are engry with the govt. and demanded that
this policy may be quashed henceforth.
When the Omar Abdullah led govt. implemented this new recruitment policy,
Observers at that that raised their voice against this policy & termed it as
hurriedly decision, which is against the aspirations of the youth. They had also
told that Omar Abdullah govt. will have to repent on it, which proved true &
correct after the results of parliamentary elections. Though the students of
Jammu University & other educational institutions came against this policy on
roads for about 40 days but of no use & when they were exhausted, they left this
movement in the mid-way. The youth of the state did not loose heart & in the
heart of hearts they became against the govt., which gave birth to such a
volcano which shaked the state govt. The coilation govt. could not win even a
single parliamentary seat in the state due to the anguish of the youth. After
the lok sabha election, the coalition govt. realized its blunders & injustice.
As a result, the C.M after the withdrawal of the code of conduct in its cabinet
meeting withdrew the New recruitment Policy, when this new reacred to the
unemployed youth, they become happy & joyous. Different organizations of the
youth welcomed & hailed this decision of Omar Abdullah. The youth of the state
were over joyous by this decision but their happiness was not long as the state
cabinet in its IInd cabinet meeting after Lok Sabha elections again took an anti
youth decision by increasing the retirement age of state govt. employees by two
years. This decision of the govt. has made the youth angry & depressed. The
state govt. in order to please the govt. employees has raised the retirement age
of govt. employees from 58 to 60 years. The govt. employees were demanding for
it since long but there was no consensus between the alliance partners i.e
congress and N.C over this issue for the last two years & the issue was pending
with the govt. The cabinet on the one hand raised the retirement age of state
govt. employees to 60 years & on the other hand the cabinet also increased the
qualifying age for jobs by 3 years making it 40 years instead of 37 years,
giving respite to the youth who were on the brick of over age. Though this
decision is a solace for some youth, whose future was saved from becoming bleak,
for which Chief Minister Omar Abdullah deserves appreciations. Analysts say that
by increasing the retirement age of govt. employees, the govt. has done great
injustice to the un-employed youth, who are the worst sufferers. For seeking
employment, they have to wait till 40 years of age. Observers have said that
with this decision the govt. has played with the future of the youth. They have
observed that with this decision, the un-employed youth have to wait for more
two years, which is a cruel joke with the youth. This was the reason that youth
of the state was against the govt. Various circles term it as fresh blunder of
Omar Abdullah, which has again annoyed the youth as this decision is one sided.
Increase in the retirement age of govt. employees is an injustice with the
un-employed youth of the state. Now the G.A.D has said that to cope up the
unemployment, the govt. will recruit one lakh un-employees in the next two
years, which will prove a great relief to the youth of the state.
Youth is the only best resource of any civilized society and we are being
deprived of this natural gift under the banner of a dubious conspiracy. As per
the 2001 census there has been 55% literacy in Jammu and Kashmir. While as this
ratio has increased during 2011 to 87.7% however 2011 census indicates the total
population of J&K state 1 crore and 25 lakh among them 72 lakh, 45 thousand are
literate. This time 6 lakh unemployed youth are without jobs and going from
pillar to post.
On one hand the ratio is 20.2 in J&K comparing to whole India 3.7%. According to
one survey report total graduates in J&K are 29034 among them 12426 belongs to
Jammu and 16698 is in Kashmir. Another survey indicates 10+2 youth tremendously
increased in Kashmir their number is 46703 and in Jammu 27212. Besides that in
the valley there are 4500 Engineering post-graduation degree holders and 8500
Engineering Diploma holders. And 6980 PG in Arts and 4094 PG in sciences. Thus
in Kashmir 244000 and in Jammu 89000 unemployed youth are in search of job.
Addition to the numbers we have 2 lac persons who are semi educated or
illiterate. Because of our limited resources, very poor industrial
infrastructure and still poorer technological sector.
The fact is that to operate in the different departments and organizations we
need young blood, sharper brains, energetic bodies, scientific approaches and
new technologies. The elders need to transfer their experience and knowledge and
provide the opportunity to the younger generation to play their highly
responsible role in nation building. We shall not forget this golden rule of
nature that to uphold the continuity the elders need to welcome the newer
generation rather become obstructions in their way. After working for a
reasonable period it is time to relax and enjoy the life without future
exertion. Question arises whether it should be in the priorities of welfare
state to increase the retirement age or to provide livelihood to the unemployed
youth of the state. In these modern times various steps are being taken in the
world for the betterment of youth but in J&K State policies are vice versa .if
the employees genuine demands are redressed I am sure nobody will be against
those policies but let it not be at the cost of already unemployed youth even
some have crossed the existing eligibility for employment.
Not going in further deep details it is the responsibility of govt. to have
consultations with different organization & surveys and come up with realistic
solution to this problem which has taken the shape of crises while learning the
lessons from recent revolutionary attitude of the youth. This is the high time
to understand the power of youth and redress the grievances on war footing
basis.
Government should take a mature step by talking with both the parties and take a
decision in this regard. It is the public demand that all the facts regarding
the issue of extending the retirement age be discussed in open forums and no
decision be taken without taking the unemployed youth on board. In any case
decision being taken without considering the aspirations of the youth. It will
be considered as a merciless decision of the administration against the
unemployed educated youth. It will be shocking blow to them. The need of the
hour is that the state employee’s representatives and the coalition government
empathize with unemployed youth and decide accordingly.