Over 32,474 government positions in Jammu and Kashmir have remained vacant for years, leaving lakhs of young people unemployed. This article explores which departments have the most vacancies and outlines the government's plans to address the issue.
Education Desk: While development projects are being announced in Jammu and Kashmir, youth unemployment has reached alarming levels. Recently presented data in the state assembly reveals that over 32,474 government posts have been vacant for years. The majority of these vacancies are in the non-gazetted and multi-tasking categories.
CM Omar Abdullah Presents Data
Responding to a question from CPI(M) MLA Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami in the assembly, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah stated that 2,503 gazetted, 19,214 non-gazetted, and 10,757 multi-tasking positions remain unfilled. This situation not only exacerbates unemployment but also impacts the efficiency of government operations.
Health, Public Works, and Agriculture Departments Face Most Vacancies
The Health and Medical Education Department has the highest number of vacancies with 7,851 unfilled positions. The Public Works Department has 3,759 vacancies, and the Animal Husbandry Department has 2,589. Other crucial departments, including Industries, Housing, Agriculture, Power, Food, and Finance, also face thousands of unfilled positions. These figures clearly indicate that delays in the recruitment process are pushing youth towards a deepening employment crisis.
Government Schemes and Claims, but Limited On-Ground Impact
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah informed that between 2015 and 2024, the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) received applications for 54,540 positions, with appointments completed for 49,564. During the same period, out of 10,762 positions referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC), 9,080 appointments were made. Despite this, a significant number of positions are still stuck in the approval or referral process.
The state government also claims that through schemes like 'Mumkin', 'Tejaswini', 'PMEGP', and 'Mission Yuva', approximately 9.5 lakh self-employment opportunities were created in the last four years. However, over 3.69 lakh educated youth remain registered with the state employment offices, raising questions about the effectiveness of government efforts.
