Government plans skill training and jobs for J & K youth

Just as home minister Rajnath Singh reached Srinagar, minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced the government's plans to give employment to the state's youth.

The scheme will begin with giving training in skills and employment for 50,000 youth in Srinagar, Leh and Kargil and later be extended to Jammu. Ministry officials have already surveyed the area to draw out the plan, but the because of the unrest the scheme was put on hold.

The government is trying to identify school dropouts and other youth to give training for jobs, Naqvi said.

He also announced the setting up of over 1000 "sadbhav mandap", under a Prime Minister Jan Vikas Yojna, in places where the minorities are in concentration. These mandaps could have haats to encourage various crafts, sports activities, community activity and malls. Under the scheme, states have to provide land for the mandaps. "We are asking them to give their proposals," Naqvi said.

Besides, the ministry has planned a "samadhaan" cell to address and resolve problems related to the minorities within 48 hours and a disaster management mechanism.