Govt mulls jobs scheme for Kashmir youth

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to set up a group, to be headed by Prime Minister’s Economic Advisor Council (PMEAC) Chairman C Rangarajan, to devise a skills-based employment programme for Kashmiri youth. Planning Commission Member B K Chaturvedi and CII mentor Tarun Das are expected to be members of the group.

The group will be asked to come forward with a jobs scheme for Kashmiri youth within three months. The prime minister is expected to make this announcement in his address to the all-party meeting convened for Tuesday evening.

It may be recalled that Rangarajan had chaired a committee that prepared an economic development plan for Jammu and Kashmir, with a focus on infrastructure development, educational empowerment and employment generation in Kashmir.

In a speech that is likely to be televised live, with the prime minister speaking in Hindustani, Singh is also expected to address the issue of J&K Rifles playing a larger role in maintenance of law and order in the troubled state.

Jammu and Kashmir has been given a 9 per cent increase, at Rs 6,000 crore, for state plan funding in the current year. An additional allocation of Rs 1,200 crore has been made under Prime Minister’s Reconstruction Plan. Though there has been no additional demand from the state government for funds as of now, the Planning Commission said issues regarding better implementation and even funding might be considered in future.

“As of now there is no demand for a special scheme or package. But certainly we will look into the possibility if there is a demand for it,” Planning commission Member B K Chaturvedi told Business Standard.