Youths make most of employment fair in J-K

Over a thousand youths thronged Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir to make most of an employment fair.

A two-day employment fair was organised by the state government in association with National Skill Development Corporation for the youth in a bid to address unemployment issue in the valley.

The fair falls under a scheme-Udaan- which started under Special Industry Initiative and around 5,000 candidates have been trained and 2,000 placed since 2011. Youths enrolled themselves in different corporate companies that participated in the fair.

During this fair, experts from various departments and officials of companies took interviews and selected youths will go outside the state for special training programme.

"This program is being organised by district employment counselling centre in association with National Skill Development Corporation. In the central scheme 'Udaan', 11 companies have come so far to employ youths here. In these two days, 1100 youths registered in this employment fair. Those who will be hired will undergo a free training programme by the company for three to six months. They will get stipend also. The boarding and lodging facility will be provided by the government. The scheme stresses on eradicating unemployment," said Assistant Director, Employment, Baramulla, Tarikh Ahmad.

Companies from various state departments like agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, sericulture, fisheries, Jammu and Kashmir entrepreneurship institute (JKEDI) along with others companies participated in the fair.

Hopeful youths said that such programmes are beneficial for them.

"I came here searching for a job. We do not get employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir for which government and 'Udaan' jointly organised the employment fair. I wish to get a job here," said a participant, Bikra Ayub Kurmani.