SRINAGAR: Describing growing unemployment as a matter of "grave concern", PDP president Mehbooba Mufti today sought "ample resources" from the Centre for post-flood economic reconstruction and to supplement the peace efforts inJammu and Kashmir.
Her concern over unemployment was raised on a day when a top army commander expressed apprehension over increasing number of Kashmiri youth joining militancy.
"To supplement the peace efforts and make it sustainable and catalyse its pace the Government of India should provide ample resources to JK government to proceed with post-flood economic reconstruction.
"We are here to give good governance to the people who have suffered immense miseries because of the governance deficit in the state. At present what is needed the most is he political will and trust in the people of the state, only then can the peace and developmental process will prove fruitful," Mehbooba said.
She was addressing a party convention in Kupwara district of north Kashmir.
Mehbooba pointed out that the problem of unemployment especially among the educated youth is a matter of "grave concern" and needs immediate thought.
"In Jammu and Kashmir, the educated youth are mostly eyeing the government jobs as the sectors outside thegovernment have not flourished, because of the lopsided policies. We need to break this vicious circle," she said.
Mehbooba said, "We have to assist our youth in getting their due share in the state's life and progress, while equipping them to meet their obligations adequately."
Making it clear that Jammu and Kashmir cannot develop without a flourishing democracy which cannot be sustained without peace and development, Mehbooba reiterated her party's resolve to facilitate dignified solution of the political and economic challenges confronting the state and its people.
"I visualise a space of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the people of the state. We have, between 2002 and 2005, laid the foundations towards building a peaceful and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and it is now the time to move ahead on that vision marking a new beginning," she said adding the elected representatives have to be responsive to the needs and concerns of people.
"They (elected representatives) must go back and consult their constituencies and explain what the government is doing for the larger welfare of the people," she said.
The PDP president said the person sitting behind the desk must know that he or she is the servant of the person in front of him, and not the other way around.
"The good governance revolves around the fundamentals of performance, accountability, transparency and rule of law," she said.
She said that not only the government but all the stakeholders, including individuals, institutions and organisations, have to be brought together in a spirit of creative enterprise to widen the economic and employment space for the state's youth.
She said the government has already put in place a New Recruitment Policy to fast-track recruitment in a transparent manner.
The PDP president said her party stands by its commitment to fight for the people's cause and to bring a qualitative improvement in their lives.
"The Assembly elections of 2014 have thrown up a challenging mandate loaded with arduous responsibilities and huge expectations," she said.