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| First step in the right direction | | | By expanding the purview of Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and welfare Policy (SKEWPY) the state government has taken the first step in the right direction to reach out to the unemployed youth in the state at a time when the chasm between the two was widening beyond point of no return in view of the prevailing law and order situation.
With fresh proposals the total number of eligible beneficiaries for Voluntary Service Allowance has risen to 1.25 lakh.
In December 2009 when the programme was first unveiled by the state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, it was received with a pinch of salt by majority of stake holders.
The package was ridiculed by others claiming that it offered too little too late to the unemployed youth struggling to find foot in the competitive world.
Stringent restrictions and requirements laid out in the draft policy document made it difficult for the unemployed youth to take benefit of the policy despite putting in its best of efforts.
Almost all the political parties pointed fingers and called for making amends to make it suitable and workable for the needy youth.
Differences also surfaced within the alliance partners over the policy.
As voices of dissent grew louder the state government rightly understood the need to fill the gaping holes and began an exercise in right earnest to reach out to the youth.A cabinet sub committee was formed to review the policy.
The fact that the enterprising policy in its amended form is going to further benefit an additional 32,000 youth between age of 26 to 37 years, is a welcome step for the state government which was largely seen as behaving like a rigid entity not ready to look for a common meeting ground.
In its amended form the state government has waived off condition of land holding for giving Voluntary Service Allowance (VSA) to the unemployed youth of the State.
The Government has also reduced the age of eligible candidates from 28 to 26 years, adding that the VSA will now be disbursed to the candidates in the age group of 26 to 37 years.
By increasing the amount by 100 for all categories the state government has made its intentions clear to reach out to the youth in every possible way and help them in their pursuit to start their careers.
The VSA will now be given in the range of Rs 600 to Rs 1200, starting from matriculates to post- graduates and engineering and medical graduates.
The cabinet sub-committee which brainstormed for number of session has incorporated one more relaxation in the annual income slab, which has been raised from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.50 lakh.
The focus of the state government has now shifted to its successful implementation. According to the state government the Deputy Commissioners across the State have been asked to step up the implementation at block and tehsil levels so that more and more deserving unemployed educated youth are covered under the scheme at the earliest.
MLAs, MLCs and Deputy Commissioners have been asked to supervise and monitor the scheme in their respective constituencies and recommend genuine cases for immediate disposal.This is largely done to check the entry of proxy candidates from back door to avail benefits by faking the identities.
An amount of Rs 122 crore has been worked out as financial implication per year for the scheme. Earlier the govt had pledged a sum of Rs 76 crore with the District Employment and Counselling Centres in the State.
In the days to come the state government authorities at the district level will have to pass through the litmus test to ensure smooth implementation of the ambitious package aimed at helping over 5 lakh unemployed youth in the state to start living their lives filled with self respect.
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