Jobs to educated unemployed youth top priority: Mufti

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Thursday said the government will accord top priority to providing jobs to qualified and skilled unemployed youth of the state and will galvanise all recruiting agencies.

"It is our top priority to provide jobs to qualified and skilled unemployed youth of the state," he said in the Legislative Assembly.

He said that all recruiting agencies will be galvanised to make selection process fair, time-bound and transparent.

The chief minister said that the government will also reinvigorate the private sector so that it is able to absorb as many skilled educated youth as possible.

Intervening in a reply to a question raised by Mohammad Akbar Lone, Sonawari MLA, in the Assembly, the chief minister said that rising unemployment is a major challenge for the government.

"We will initiate steps to ensure that selections by recruiting agencies are made in a fair and transparent manner," he added.

The chief minister also stated that the government will work to enhance employability of local skilled youth in the private sector.

In another intervention to a question raised by Mubarak Gul, Idgah MLA, regarding steps being taken to improve the condition of dilapidated irrigation canals in Idgah constituency, he said the government is fast-tracking relief to all those affected by the floods of September 2014.