Part of 50000 job package?

Srinagar: Two months after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah promised youth in Jammu and Kashmir 50000 jobs, the state cabinet Thursday approved engagement of 43000 labourers in various government departments.

An official spokesman said that Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a meeting of cabinet here this morning.

“Cabinet approved engagement of 43,000 casual/seasonal labours in the departments of Power Development, PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control, Public Works, Rural Development, Floriculture, School Education and Forests,” the spokesman said while terming the decision as “landmark.”

The cabinet, the spokesman said, decided that the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department will examine proposal for engagement of 7,000 causal/seasonal labours, in greater detail for further consideration and order of the Cabinet in the Department.

Of the 43,000 engagements as many as 20,500 will be made in Jammu division and the same number in Kashmir division while 2,000 engagements will be made in Ladakh region.

“The Cabinet also approved the guidelines for engagement of the above said persons and directed for strict adherence of these while making the engagements. It also authorized the above said departments for making the engagement for which the notification will be issued by the Finance Department.

Official sources said that an expenditure of Rs. 143 crores on the scheme would be met as per the arrangement which envisages loading of Rs. 23 crores on the cost of new projects under implementation, enhancing the existing provisions in the non-plan maintenance budget of the respective departments to the tune of Rs. 40 crores and Rs. 80 crores as maintenance provisions in the Annual Plan 2010-11 in different sectors.

It may be apt to recall here that Chief Minister Omar on August 15—Indian Independence day— promised to provide jobs to 50000 youth. Omar had made the announcement while speaking on Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir.

In another decision, the official spokesman said, the Cabinet approved the creation of 10 posts of Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Accounts Officer, Section Officer, Accountant, Accounts Assistant, Senior Assistant, Junior Assistant, Driver one each and two Orderlies in the J&K Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board.