Census figures belie J&K govt`s claim of development: BJP

Jammu: The BJP on Tuesday said the Census data of Jammu and Kashmir "belied" the ruling NC-Congress alliance`s claims of development having improved socio-economic situation in the state during its tenure.

"The figures released by Census department (last month) belie the NC-Congress coalition government`s claims of development having improved employment or overall socio- economic scenario in Jammu and Kashmir during the past five years of its tenure. "On the contrary, statistical evidence shows that the reverse is true," BJP national executive member and state chief spokesperson, Dr Jitendra Singh, said in a statement here. "The statistics show that out of a population of 1.25 crore, only 43 lakh are employed while the rest of 82 lakh are unemployed. This is notwithstanding government`s initiatives like Sher-e-Kashmir Employment Scheme, Consolidated Salary Job Scheme, Fast Track recruitment Policy," he said. The BJP leader said the figures revealed that during the tenure of the present coalition government, the dependency ratio has increased. He said 67 percent literacy rate of the state was far less than that in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. "What happened to the ruling party`s promise of providing education to all?" Singh also flayed the government for the declining sex ratio in the state. PTI