Kashmiri youths welcome employment package

Srinagar, Dec 10 (ANI): Youth in Kashmir welcome the employment package announced by the State government and believe that this would certainly solve their problem.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has recently announced the employment scheme for unemployed under the scheme. Youth between 20-37 years of age would get a monthly stipend ranging between 500 rupees and 1,000 rupees as Voluntary Service Allowance (VSA).

Named as the 'Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the Youth' (SKEWPY) it offers several self-employment schemes, skill development/upgrading initiatives, state-sponsored schemes, filling up of vacancies in government and dole for educated unemployed.

"Employment schemes are very good especially for the unemployed as they have announced several packages according to which they will give money to metric passed. And this will help in solving the problem of unemployment as whosoever is unemployed will search for appropriate scheme and can start their own business," said Sheikh Muneer, an applicant.

"We are very happy that Kashmir Chief Minister has announced such package. We are so much thankful to him because I believe this will help in solving the Kashmir unemployment problem. And if government actually takes this seriously it will be a lot of help to solve the unemployment problem altogether," said Tabinda, another applicant.

As per this employment policy monthly stipend would be given to those families whose annual family income does not exceed rupees 50,000.

There would be different grades for youth that have studied up to class tenth and above. The stipend would cost the state exchequer over 250 crore rupees per annum.

Under the policy government would also offer easy loans to the youth for starting their own businesses.

Rupees 500 per month would be paid to eligible matriculates and Rupees 1100 per month to post graduates and medical graduates. All unemployed women will be paid additional 50 rupees in all the grades.

Creation of employment opportunities for five lakh persons in next five years under skill upgradation programme, recruitment of about one lakh qualified people in government jobs and creation of an entrepreneurship development fund are other features of the new employment policy. By Afzal Bhat (ANI)