SRINAGAR: New Delhi has extended the engagement period of Kashmiri youth under the National Youth Corps (NYC) by a year.
State Congress President Prof Saifuddin Soz Tuesday thanked the Union Minister of Sports and Youth Services, Jatinder Singh for his strenuous efforts to extend the programme.
The government of India in 2010 engaged thousands of youth in the valley, in what many saw as an attempt to prevent them from joining anti-India protests.
But they felt dejected and were depressed after their two-year programm under the NYC ended last year.
“Once the protests stopped we were left half way. Government has exploited us,” said one NYC volunteer.
Many said they had left studies to join the programme, where they were paid a stipend. They held continuous protests, urging the government to extend the programme.
Soz also thanked the Congress General Secretary (Incharge J&K) Ambika Soni for her support in ensuring the extension.
He said he will still continue pushing for a two-year extension for the Kashmiri youth under the NYC.
“In the meantime I would request the J&K Government to devise criteria for engagement of these candidates in various departments, on regular basis,” he said.
