Srinagar: With Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate a new rail division and railway link in the J&K in coming days, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged him to prioritize employment opportunities for locals in the railway sector here.
In a statement here, PDP vice president Sartaj Madni pointed to the alarming unemployment statistics in Jammu and Kashmir, noting that the region has the highest youth unemployment rate in India at 32 percent.
“Female joblessness stands at an even more staggering 53.6 percent, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation,” he pointed out.
Reminding the Prime Minister of his “Dil aur Dilli ki doori” statement, Madni said that Modi must fulfill his pledges, and the least he can do is to allocate a separate quota for Kashmiri youth in railways.
The PDP vice-president urged the Prime Minister to actively allocate jobs in railways to the local youth, particularly in areas with limited employment opportunities. Madni emphasized that Grade III and Grade IV vacancies should be reserved for locals. “The Centre must hold special recruitment drives for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir in railways,” he said.
Highlighting the importance of local participation, Madni added that contractual positions should also be offered to residents to ensure the department’s efficient functioning. “This way, unemployed local youth can secure jobs, and the railways will benefit from employees who have a better understanding of the region,” he said.
