Speaker, Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, Mubarak Gul urged the unemployed youth to avail benefits of various employment schemes launched by the present dispensation for setting up income generating units.Gul was addressing a daylong employment fair in Eidgah here today. He said that the aim of organising the employment fair was to disseminate the information about the various states and centrally sponsored self employment schemes and to facilitate artisans associated with various handicrafts, government has created two handicraft clusters in the old city which enable scores of artisans to earn their livelihood with dignity. He said that to give a fillip to the handicrafts in the valley, the government is creating 40 more clusters in the old city.
The Speaker was told that 72796 unemployed educated youth of Srinagar have been registered in the employment exchange. He was also informed that 6722 unemployed educated youth have been brought under the SKEWPY scheme. It was also given out that 283 IG Units have been set up in the Srinagar district besides 46 self help groups have also been created in the district.While addressing the gathering, the Speaker said that Central Government has released an amount of Rs. 750 crore for implementing UMEED Scheme. He asked the women to set up self help groups under the scheme so that they can earn their livelihood with honour and dignity.On this occasion, Mr. Gul said that a hospital is being constructed in the Eidgah area. He also said that solar street lights would be installed on the Dr. Ali Jan road from Eidgah to Soura. He said that steps are being taken to beautify Eidgah Park.The District Development Commissioner also addressed the gathering on the occasion. The Deputy Director Employment and Counselling department while interacting with the youth acquainted them with various employment schemes introduced by the government.The departments of I&C, Fisheries, Sheep and Animal Husbandry, Tourism, Agriculture, Floriculture, Horticulture, Handloom, Handicrafts etc had set up their stalls.A sizeable number of youth participated in the employment fair.Later, the Department of Information and Public Relations presented a colourful cultural programme and enthralled the audience.