Youth denote strength of nation: Omar

SRINAGAR: Describing youth as the strength of a nation, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah asked them to channelize their energy positively and be vanguard stakeholders in the socio-economic development of the State.
Speaking to a large number of young persons at ‘Kashmir Youth Festival’ at SKICC here, the Chief Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir during the period of 20 years unrest witnessed exploitation of young generation by both pro-election and anti-election politicians.
“This has largely told upon the channelization of youth force positively for the betterment of the society and also marred the holistic development and growth of young people to a greater extent”, he said adding that the time is ripe enough when youth should repulse every attempt aimed at their exploitation.
Omar Abdullah said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir nurture same hopes and aspirations of better tomorrow, peaceful and honourable livelihood and befitting opportunities to grow, as the youth of other states do. However, he said during the period of disturbances in the State they witnessed only darkness and grew under the shadow of gun. “We have to provide them platform and opportunity to show their mettle and lead the State towards new highs of progress and prosperity.
The Chief Minister said that security of life, economy and respect is the desire of every young person and his Government would strive hard to pull them out of make belief world and deception they have been put in by the vested interests for a long time.
“My Government wants to rekindle hope in them, provide better environment to grow and create opportunities to exhibit their capabilities”, he said adding that he has never promised two government jobs to every household nor he has fed youth with false promises that everyone of them would be given government job as it is not possible and to promise this kind of thing was to deceive them. He asserted that his Government would generate as many of government jobs for youth as it could but the solution to the unemployment crisis does not lie in government jobs.
“We are opening new job orbit for youth in the private sector and have focused on their skills development and employability so that they can be smoothly absorbed in open job market”, he said adding that all possible help is being given to budding entrepreneurs to launch their ventures in the State under various initiatives including SKEWPY.
The Chief Minister asked the organizers of the festival to provide the opportunity to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir State to participate in similar festivals outside the State in various parts of the Country and interact with the youth of those places to help remove the misgivings about Jammu and Kashmir youth in their minds.
Omar Abdullah also asked for organizing similar festivals and sports melas in the State inviting the youth from outside to participate and witness the hospitality and friendly temperament of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Minister of State for Youth Welfare and Sports, Ajay Makan, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports, R. S. Chib, Union Joint Secretaries, Rakesh Mohan and Shardha Ali, Secretary Youth Welfare and Sports, B. A. Runiyal, Director Information, Kh. Farooq Renzushah and Secretary Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council, Kiran Wattal were present on the occasion.