Omar never assured jobs, stipend to unemployed youths: JK govt

The Jammu and Kashmir government today said chief minister Omar Abdullah never gave any assurance to provide government jobs or stipend to unemployed youths in the state.

"The chief minister did not give any assurance to provide government jobs or stipend or sustenance allowance to unemployed youths...It is pre-mature to make any commitment in this behalf at this juncture," Labour and Employment minister in-charge Abdul Gani Malik told the Assembly in a written reply to a question posed by PDP leader Muzaffar Hussain Baig.

Omar had reportedly promised stipend to unemployed youths till they get jobs during election meetings.
    
Malik, however, said the financial and administrative implications of providing sustenance allowance to youth would need to be examined in depth before making any policy in this regard.

The number of unemployed youth registered with employment exchanges in the state is 1.18 lakh, he said.
    
As many as 21,640 posts, both gazetted and non-gazetted, have been referred to recruitment agencies. These included 7,035 jobs in police department, Malik informed the Assembly.

As many as 11,163 posts have been created in various department, which will be filled through normal recruitment process. There are budgetary provisions available for these posts, he said.