Jammu and Kashmir’s Leader of Opposition, Sunil Sharma, has strongly criticized the government, alleging that it has “shattered” the dreams of unemployed youth by outsourcing approximately 23,000 jobs. Sharma, speaking on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), called for the immediate rollback of this decision, warning of significant backlash from the youth if their concerns are not addressed.
Government Accused of Betrayal
Speaking to reporters in Srinagar, Sharma stated that the government has, in essence, “outsourced” or “sold” these jobs instead of filling them through a transparent recruitment process. This, he argued, represents a profound betrayal of the aspirations of the unemployed youth in the Union Territory. He cited a government response in the assembly, which indicated that nearly 23,000 positions were outsourced across Jammu and Kashmir over the preceding two years. Information was available with The Chenab Times that confirmed a total of 22,886 positions were outsourced during this period, according to a written reply to a question posed by MLA Handwara Sajad Lone.
Concerns Over Outsourcing and Merit>
Sharma condemned the outsourcing of jobs, arguing that it undermines the principles of meritocracy and transparency in recruitment. He questioned how deserving candidates could compete when a transparent examination, interview, or application process is bypassed. The BJP leader further alleged that the current administration has failed to fulfill its earlier pledge of filling vacant posts within a stipulated timeframe, specifically 180 days. He asserted that such practices create an uneven playing field for educated and qualified job seekers.
Allegations of Nepotism and Broken Promises
Adding to his criticism, Sharma accused the ruling administration of institutionalizing nepotism and betraying the aspirations of the youth. He claimed that despite election promises of creating one lakh jobs, the government has instead resorted to outsourcing, thereby crushing the hopes of educated young individuals. Sharma also alleged that political families have misled the public about the BJP, attempting to alienate them from the party. He suggested that the growing number of political activists and youth joining the BJP indicates an increasing acceptance of the party in the region.
Government Schemes and Job Creation
While Sharma is critical of the outsourcing of jobs, the Jammu and Kashmir government has also highlighted various initiatives aimed at addressing unemployment. According to details received by The Chenab Times, over 3.70 lakh unemployed youth had registered on the employment portal as of January 2025, with a significant portion being graduates and post-graduates. The government has introduced schemes such as ‘Mission Youth’, ‘Mumkin’, and ‘Tejaswini’ to enhance employment prospects and promote self-employment opportunities. The ‘Mumkin’ scheme, for instance, focuses on providing livelihood opportunities in the transport sector by offering subsidies and facilitating bank loans for aspiring entrepreneurs to acquire small commercial vehicles. Additionally, the ‘Parvaaz’ scheme aims to prepare youth for competitive and recruitment examinations, while other initiatives support startups and entrepreneurship.
Broader Economic Context
The issue of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir has been a persistent concern. Reports have indicated a high unemployment rate, particularly among the youth. Various schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) and Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes are being implemented at the national level, with expected benefits for the region. However, challenges such as limited ground-level impact of government schemes, low private investment, and issues related to skills and dropout rates continue to affect the job market. The government has stated that it has no immediate plans to reintroduce unemployment stipends for educated jobseekers, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the employment portal registration and the focus on self-employment schemes.
The Chenab Times News Desk