JK job plans for youths, not for separatists: Govt

New Delhi, Sep 27: The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met the expert group set up by him for ensuring employment opportunities for Kashmiri youths.

Manmohan Singh has evaluated the progress of plans of the expert group, chaired by former Reserve Bank of India governor C Rangarajan, to increase jobs for the unrest youths in the Valley. He asked the panel to ensure that employment opportunities were sustainable. He also suggested the panel to give regard to equity considerations, in terms of various regions of the state, sectors of the economy, levels of skill, and gender.

Kashmir's three lakh unemployed youth are not so sure about the Centre's initiative. But the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) thinks the move will go a long way.

Minister of State in the PMO Prithviraj Chavan told that the package was not meant for the separatists but for the people of Jammu and Kashmir and hoped that a positive reaction would emerge soon.

The expert group was set up by prime minister on Aug 10, 2010 to formulate a job plan for the troubled state.

OneIndia News