Says tourism promotion has become a publicity exercise while local livelihoods suffer
SRINAGAR, Nov 8: President of the Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former Cabinet Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen on Sunday launched a strong attack over the growing unemployment crisis in Jammu and Kashmir, accusing the authorities of failing to address the genuine concerns of educated unemployed youth and demanding immediate corrective measures in recruitment and tourism policies.
Welcoming the advertisement of bank recruitment posts, Yaseen said that announcing vacancies without addressing the contentious issues of reservation and the upper age limit was no solution to the mounting frustration among aspirants.
He demanded that the upper age limit for recruitment be extended to 40 years, arguing that years of recruitment delays had already cost thousands of young people their most productive years. He also called for a substantial share of vacancies for open merit candidates, stressing that recruitment must be fair, transparent and responsive to the aspirations of all sections.
“How long will the educated youth of Jammu and Kashmir be made to wait? Recruitment advertisements cannot become a substitute for a clear and just recruitment policy. When reservation-related issues remain unresolved, what is the purpose of advertising posts without first addressing the concerns of aspirants? Such uncertainty only deepens frustration and breeds hopelessness among our youth,” Yaseen said.
Questioning the government’s approach, he said it was deeply unfortunate that young people continued to face uncertainty over their future despite the alarming unemployment situation in the region.
“An entire generation cannot be made to pay the price for administrative delays and policy indecision. Unemployment is not merely a statistical figure; it is about shattered aspirations, families under pressure and the future of thousands of educated young people,” he added.
Yaseen appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to intervene immediately, resolve the reservation-related issues and ensure that the upper age limit is enhanced to 40 years so that deserving candidates are not pushed out of the recruitment process.
On the tourism front, Yaseen questioned the government’s claims of promoting Jammu and Kashmir as a major tourist destination while important destinations like Doodhpathri Yousmarg and Tosamaidan, continued to remain closed or inaccessible.
He said the continued restrictions on access to these destinations had inflicted economic hardship on hundreds of local families, particularly unemployed youth whose livelihoods depended on tourism, pony services, transport, guiding and other allied activities.
“It is contradictory to spend crores of rupees on tourism campaigns, promotional events and publicity while keeping destinations that can sustain hundreds of local livelihoods out of reach. Tourism cannot flourish through slogans, advertisements and grand events alone. It must put money in the pockets of ordinary people,” he said.
Yaseen said the issue was not merely about tourism but about the livelihood and economic survival of communities dependent on these destinations.
He recalled that the matter had previously been taken up with the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister and other concerned authorities, but a satisfactory resolution was still awaited.
Yaseen once again appealed to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and other concerned authorities to personally intervene and facilitate the reopening of Doodhpathri Yousmarg and Tosamaidan,at the earliest, subject to necessary security clearances.
“Jammu and Kashmir needs decisions that create employment, restore confidence and open economic opportunities. The youth cannot survive on promises, nor can local communities sustain themselves on tourism slogans. The government must move beyond publicity and deliver tangible results,” he said.