The recent announcement by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti that her government would regularise the services of 60,000 daily wagers and casual labourers working in various departments has brought a sigh of relief among not only the beneficiaries but also to other unemployed educated youth of the state as the move has lit a ray of hope among them that the present political dispensation is not negligent to their genuine concerns. The CM said the move is aimed at providing sustainable livelihoods to those who need it the most. She tweeted that ‘Hard work & dedication must always be recognized & appreciated’. The process to formulate a road map for the regularisation was started this year with the state government constituting a high-level committee for the purpose. Now it is being seen as a major respite as daily wagers and casual labourers often went on strike with the demand for regularisation, hampering government work in the state. It is a matter of serious concern that the unemployment in Jammu Kashmir has rose to the level that it demands much bigger steps. The number of educated unemployed youth has exceeded 10 lakh not to speak of uneducated or lesser educated persons. The issue of unemployment has also taken a heavy toll on the mental health of youth. So, the government’s endeavour should be to explore much more ways to overcome the challenge that is linked with the future generation and, if succeeded, may even change the political course of the conflict torn state. As of now, the move of regularisation was the much awaited one and is a step in the right direction that may also prove beneficial to the party in future.
