KISHTWAR, Nov 4: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference senior leader and Spokesperson for Chenab Valley region, Ajeet Bhagat, has urged the government and concerned authorities to ensure adequate employment opportunities for local youth as the region emerges as a major hub for hydroelectric power projects.
Expressing concern over the employment situation, Bhagat said that despite the presence of several major power projects in the Chenab Valley, educated unemployed youth of the region were not receiving adequate representation in recruitment. He pointed out that local people had made significant sacrifices in the form of land acquisition and environmental impact to facilitate these projects and therefore deserved priority in employment opportunities.
Bhagat said the Chenab Valley possessed immense hydroelectric potential and played an important role in the region’s economic development. However, he stressed that the benefits of these projects should also reach local communities, particularly young people seeking employment.
He alleged that preference was being given to outsiders while skilled and unskilled local youth continued to face difficulties in securing jobs in these projects.
The National Conference leader demanded a transparent recruitment policy ensuring appropriate reservation or preference for eligible youth from the Chenab Valley in ongoing and upcoming hydroelectric projects. He also called for establishing skill development centres in the region to equip young people with technical expertise required in the power sector.
Bhagat further urged the administration to conduct a comprehensive review of recruitment practices followed by project authorities and take immediate corrective measures to address the concerns of local residents.
He cautioned that continued neglect of the employment aspirations of Chenab Valley youth could lead to growing public dissatisfaction and reiterated the need to ensure that local communities receive a fair share of the economic benefits generated by projects operating in their region.