SRINAGAR, July 9: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday said he was both happy and hopeful about the ‘positive transformation’ taking place in the mindset of Kashmiri youth, who, according to him were now giving lesser preference to government jobs.
Abdullah also urged them to “build a Kashmir of their own dreams”.
The Chief Minister was addressing a seminar in Srinagar aimed at making youth aware of potential job options other than the government jobs.
“You are the future ones to take care of the State and develop it as per your dreams”, he told the gathering of youth while hinting at opportunities in Civil Services, Staff Selection Commission, Information Technology, Banking, Law besides others.
Abdullah said he wanted to rekindle hopes for a self-sufficient and economically sound Jammu and Kashmir state among the youth, which, according to him, was possible without fancying government jobs.
“In fact, the State Government should not be seen as job provider but a service delivering and development giving concern”, he said.
“The total annual income of the State by all means is just Rs.6500 crores and we have to pay salary to the government employees to the tuneof Rs. 13500 crores yearly and the losses per annum on electricity supplyaccount for another Rs. 2000 crores”, he explained.
The Chief Minister said that new initiatives for skill development and employability of youth have been initiated and the schemes like Udaan and Himayat are under implementation with the help of Prime Minister’s office.
He informed that private investors and companies were being roped in and the negative perception in the minds of big business houses regarding investing in the State was being removed.
