Unemployment Data Out: Two lakh educated youth among 8 lakh youth unemployed in J&K, reveals RTI

Bhat Imran

Srinagar, Jul 13 (KNO): In Jammu and Kashmir nearly eight lakh youth registered at Directorate of Employment are unemployed including two lakh educated individuals.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) has learnt that at least 1,99,872 educated youth were unemployed till May-31-2023.

According to the data revealed by the Public Information Officer (PIO) at Directorate of Employment in a reply to Right to Information (RTI) application “The total number of unemployed educated registered at departmental portal as on 31.05.2023 was 199872.”

On asking about the details of schemes in erstwhile State of J&K for employment programs and also the details of schemes now in vogue post abrogation of Article-370, the PIO said that upto 2015-16, the department was implementing J&K Self Employment Scheme (JKSES) for educated unemployed youth of J&K state.

“However during the budget announcements of 2015-16, the scheme was subsumed with Seed Capital Scheme of Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Institute JKEDI,” it reads.

The PIO further informed that now, the department has submitted the guidelines under the self employment schemes viz; Seed Capital Fund Scheme, Youth Start-up Loan for their implementation through Directorate Employment which otherwise were earlier implemented by JKEDI and also proposal for revival of J&K Overseas Corporation. “These guidelines and proposals are under examination with the Administrative Department.”

On seeking the details of any survey conducted by the Directorate of Employment in the Union Territory of J&K to ascertain the fact of unemployment in the Territory and the permanent solution of unemployment issue, the PIO said, “The department has conducted unemployment survey in all districts of the UT during the months of March, April and May 2022 in coordination with the District Administration.”

“All the districts except Bandipora have been covered. The report reveals that there are 6,63,511 unemployed youth as on 31.05.2022 in the UT,” reads the reply.

It also states that out of these unemployed youth about 10-15 percent are self employed or have their agriculture related business or have a small shop in their respective villages.

The PIO said, “Therefore, the actual number of unemployed youth at field level will be 5,639,84.”

It also said that the workforce in the UT out of total population 130.00 Lakh will be 80.00 Lakh. “Therefore, the unemployment rate will be 7.04 percent.”

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“Further, during 2022-23, Directorate of Employment through its District Employment and Counseling Centres has conducted employment and unemployment survey by taking into consideration one village in every tehsil as a First Stage Unit (FSU),” reads the RTI reply.

The PIO further said that on the basis of the survey conducted from 206 tehsils as per census of 2011. The basis of the survey is that the unemployment rate is around 8.31 percent—(KNO)

Central University students protest, demand fair fee structure, improved facilities

Threaten to boycott classes if demands are not met; VC assures of prompt resolution of grievances

Srinagar, July 13 (KNO): Students of Central University of Kashmir (CUK) held a protest on Thursday, demanding fair fee structure and improved facilities. The students threatened to boycott their classes if demands were not met.

The protesting students , as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) said that the university was charging exorbitant semester and admission fee without any improving facilities.

“Our seniors would pay less than 30 to 40 percent of the fees what we are being charged this time. The hike in fees would have been justified if their has been improvement in the facilities. But that has not been done so far,” they said.

They claimed that the fees charged by the CUK was significantly higher compared to other universities established under the Central University Act 2009.

They also said criticised the university’s financial policies, stating that they were being charged for non-existent facilities.

They pointed out the absence of accommodation options, such as hostels, while the university continues to collect fees for these amenities.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellor Prof A Ravinder Nath urged the students not to boycott their classes and assured them their grievances would be taken seriously and resolved promptly.

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“We will resolve the issue within a week. Students can form a committee that will communicate with us to deliberate up on the issues they are facing here,” he said—(KNO)

40 percent teaching positions vacant in CUJ, reveals RTI

Srinagar, Jul 13 (KNO): In a startling revelation, around 40 percent of teaching positions in the Central University of Jammu (CUJ) are currently vacant, leaving the institution on crutches.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) of the university has provided this data to Raman Sharma in response to his Right to Information (RTI) application filed in the University.

According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the PIO in a reply issued on July 12-2023 has stated that the sanctioned strength of teaching positions in the university is 178, while the present strength of the teaching staff is 107.

As per the reply to the RTI, it has been confirmed that there are currently 71 vacant teaching positions in the university.

Regarding the non-teaching staff, the PIO has mentioned that the sanctioned strength of non-teaching positions in the university is 119, with 32 positions currently vacant.

However, the query regarding temporary non-teaching staff was not addressed, with the response stating that “no such information is available.”

In response to the inquiry about the student enrollment, the PIO informed Raman Sharma that the university currently has a total of 2,354 enrolled students. This includes 308 SC, 115 ST, 458 OBC, 1 PWD, and 120 EWS students.

However, as per the document, the PIO has not directly answered the query about the total intake capacity for students in different courses and departments, instead has referred the applicant to the university website and the prospectus for the year 2023-24—(KNO)