State Overseas Employment Corp: ‘Not a Single Youth Placed Abroad, So Far’

KL NEWS NETWORK

SRINAGAR

The much hyped Jammu and Kashmir State Overseas Employment Corporation Limited (JKSOECL) has failed to place even a single unemployed youth of the state overseas even after six-years of its establishment.

The Corporation was set up in October 2009 with an aim to facilitate 7,000 jobs within five years for the educated and skilled labour force within and outside the country.

However, despite its officials getting hefty salaries and other administrative expenses, sources told KNS that the Corporation had failed to place even a single youth abroad thus raising a question mark over its functioning.

The J&K Government has provided Rs 5.85 crore to the corporation since 2009-10. “Most of the amount had been spent on salary and administrative expenses,” sources said.

The insiders said that after the Corporation was set up, 2000 candidates were registered under doctor, engineer, paramedic and unskilled categories, but not a single placement has been made so far.

JKSOECL was set up by the NC government as a ‘landmark initiative’ under Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Program for Youth (SKEWPY), on the pattern of what existed in Tamil Nadu to boost employment opportunities in the state. The Corporation had been authorized to use its New Delhi office to tie-up with the outside Governments and private companies for recruitment of youth.

They were asked to register at their respective district employment and counselling centers and were to be given voluntary service allowance till they got a job or attain the age of 37, whichever was earlier. “But it has proved a failure for the unemployed youth of J&K,” sources said.

Sources said the major hurdle in seeking employment for these youth is the fact that their skills hardly match the international job requirements.

“To match the skill required in overseas markets, the Government need to hone the skills of workers as is being done in other Asian countries. But the Corporation has failed to make any efforts in this regard,” an official said.

When contacted JKSOECL Managing Director Manzoor Ahmad Lone he admitted that no youth has been sent overseas under this scheme.

“We are making efforts but the Corporation could not facilitate to make recruitment of any youth under this scheme in overseas,” Lone said.

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