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| Freezing government posts in the name of austerity is a cruel joke on unemployed youth: Bhalla | |
Jammu, May 24 (Scoop News)- Expressing strong concern over the government's decision to freeze all vacant posts as part of its austerity measures, former minister and Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC), Raman Bhalla, on Sunday described the move as a cruel joke on the educated unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir who are already grappling with limited employment opportunities.
Addressing a public gathering at Rajeev Nagar in Jammu, Bhalla said the decision would further aggravate the unemployment crisis in the Union Territory and diminish the hopes of thousands of qualified young men and women aspiring for government jobs.
He urged the government to immediately review and withdraw the decision, arguing that austerity measures should not come at the cost of employment generation. Instead of freezing government posts, Bhalla said, the administration should focus on reducing extravagant expenditure incurred by the ruling establishment and the bureaucracy.
"The burden of austerity should not be placed on the shoulders of unemployed youth. If the government is serious about reducing expenditure, it should begin by curtailing unnecessary spending by the ruling elite and senior bureaucrats rather than blocking employment opportunities for deserving candidates," he said.
Highlighting the growing unemployment challenge, Bhalla observed that joblessness among educated youth has emerged as one of the most pressing socio-economic issues not only in Jammu and Kashmir but across the country. However, he noted that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is particularly serious due to the region's unique economic structure and limited private-sector opportunities.
"Unlike many other states where industries, manufacturing units and private enterprises provide large-scale employment, Jammu and Kashmir has a relatively weak industrial base. For decades, government service has remained one of the principal sources of stable employment for educated youth. Any decision to freeze recruitment or keep posts vacant will only deepen frustration among job seekers," he said.
The Congress leader warned that prolonged unemployment could have serious social and economic consequences, including increasing distress among young people and slowing the region's overall development. He stressed that employment generation should be treated as a priority area of governance rather than a sector where expenditure cuts are imposed.
Bhalla further said that thousands of vacancies across various government departments remain unfilled despite an acute shortage of staff in essential sectors such as education, healthcare, public administration and rural development. Filling these vacancies, he argued, would not only strengthen public service delivery but also provide much-needed employment opportunities to qualified youth.
Calling for a long-term solution to the unemployment crisis, Bhalla demanded that the government formulate and implement a comprehensive employment policy tailored to the needs and aspirations of Jammu and Kashmir's youth.
He said such a policy should focus on accelerating recruitment to vacant government posts, promoting industrial investment, encouraging entrepreneurship, supporting start-ups, enhancing skill development programmes and creating opportunities in emerging sectors such as information technology, tourism, agriculture and allied industries.
"The youth of Jammu and Kashmir do not seek charity; they seek opportunities. The government must create an environment where educated young people can secure dignified employment and contribute to the economic growth of the region," he said.
Bhalla reiterated that addressing unemployment should remain at the centre of public policy and urged the administration to engage with stakeholders, youth organisations and experts while framing employment-related initiatives.
"The future of Jammu and Kashmir depends on its youth. Any policy that limits employment opportunities will only widen the gap between aspirations and opportunities. The government must reconsider its decision and take concrete steps to provide jobs and hope to the younger generation," he added.
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