Over 32,000 Government Posts Remain Vacant in J&K Amid Soaring Unemployment
JAMMU, April 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah disclosed that more than 32,000 government positions remain unfilled across different departments, despite the growing unemployment in the region.
Responding to a question from CPI (M) MLA M Y Tarigami in the Legislative Assembly, the Chief Minister stated that a total of 32,474 vacancies exist. These include 2,503 gazetted posts, 19,214 non-gazetted posts, and 10,757 Class IV (multi-tasking staff) positions.
Adding more details about the vacant posts, the CM said, “The posts which are lying vacant in 38 departments: the Health and Medical Education Department has 7,851 vacancies; the Public Works (Roads and Buildings) Department has 3,759 posts vacant; the Animal Husbandry Department has 2,589 vacancies; Industries and Commerce have 2,517; Housing and Urban Development have 2,420; Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare have 1,340; the Power Department has 1,305; the Food and Supplies Department has 1,131; the Finance Department has 1,009; the Revenue Department has 1,004; Jal Shakti has 856; and the School Education Department has to fill 770 vacancies. The Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction is the only one that has no vacancies.”
On the question of the details of vacancies referred to recruitment agencies for the last 10 years and the status of the selection of these posts, indicating also the time by which these pending vacancies are filled up on a fast-track basis to tackle the ever-increasing menace of unemployment in the UT, the CM said, “In a span of the last 10 years (2015-2024), the government referred 54,540 posts to the JKSSB, resulting in 49,564 selections, while 10, 762 posts were referred to the JKPSC, with 9,080 appointments finalised. Despite these recruitments, thousands of sanctioned posts remain pending, awaiting clearance or referral.”
“We have directed all departments to set clear targets for recruitment within the first 100 days and up to one year (from November 20, 2024, to November 20, 2025). The focus, according to the administration, is on a “fast-track and transparent” hiring process,” he said.
Addressing the concerns raised by Tarigami about the regularisation of over 60,000 daily wagers and casual and seasonal labourers, he said, “A high-level committee under the Chief Secretary has been formed to examine legal, humanitarian and financial aspects related to regularisation of Casual, Seasonal Labourers or Other Workers (CSLWs). The committee is expected to submit its recommendations within six months.”
Providing details about the qualification-wise and profession-wise, the details of the number of educated unemployed youth and the steps contemplated to be taken to generate job opportunities for such youth, the CM revealed that a total of 369,010 youth are registered with District Employment Exchanges, including over 224,495 up to the 10+2 level, 66,628 graduates, 47,114 postgraduates, 15,396 degree holders, and 9,884 diploma and technical certificate holders.
The CM said, “To address the growing joblessness, the government has facilitated over 9.5 lakh self-employment opportunities in the past four years through schemes like Mumkin, Tejaswini, PMEGP, and others. Under Mission YUVA, the administration aims to support five lakh youth over five years, creating over 1.3 lakh enterprises and 4.25 lakh employment opportunities across sectors.”
“These schemes and programmes are presently functional and implemented on the ground, with a focus on youth development, entrepreneurship and livelihood generation,” he said
“The government is also conducting job fairs/placement drives at the divisional/district level in order to provide a single platform between the unemployed youth and the potential employer for their better placement in different private sectors. During the last four years, 746 job fairs were conducted in which 4,893 placements were made by 2,760 companies, and 6,640 candidates were recommended for skill training,” he said and added that the government is also facilitating self-employment opportunities for the job seekers through various line departments.
“Besides, permanent facilitation centres at district level for conducting counselling sessions, seminars, etc., for guidance and upgradation of skills of potential job seekers as per the market value have been set up. We have also started imparting the skill development training courses across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, which has achieved remarkable participation from all sectors,” the CM informed.
