Industrialists Should Prefer Local Youth For The Jobs: J&K Dy CM

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Wednesday said those who set up industries in Jammu and Kashmir will have to provide employment to local youth in the region.

Crediting previous National Conference governments for industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir, he said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is committed to industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir but that will not be at the cost of the people. "Those (investors) who will set up industries in Jammu and Kashmir will have to provide employment to local youth in the region," Choudhary said while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Assembly here. He said the Omar Abdullah government is committed to ensuring no injustice to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "It is the commitment of the Omar Abdullah government.

The industrial estates, whether in Kashmir, Jammu, Gangyal, or any other place, were set up during National Conference rule. The Chief Minister is committed to industrial development in Jammu and Kashmir but that will not be at the cost of the people," he said. Replying to a question from BJP MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, the Deputy Chief Minister further said, "It is the endeavour of this government that we will not allow the lands of the people of J&K to be given to outsiders. Whatever is right will be done." He said the local youth have a right to jobs in industries. The deputy chief minister said soon after the formation of the government, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah held meetings with various stakeholders in the industrial sector. "It is a fact that the local industry faced losses during the past 10 years. Nothing was done for the employment of local youth. We are committed to changing that," he added. Choudhary said the key highlights of the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy 2021-30 aim to bolster industrial growth across various sectors, focusing on manufacturing, IT, agriculture, food processing, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, real estate, herbal and medicinal plants, among other sectors notified by the Jammu and Kashmir government.