Omar Abdullah Calls for Stronger Private Sector Role to Expand Youth Employment in J&K
Srinagar, July 28 (ANB): Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reiterated his government's commitment to expanding employment opportunities for the youth, stressing that while government jobs alone cannot address unemployment, it remains the government's responsibility to create avenues through private sector recruitment, entrepreneurship, skill development and industry partnerships.
Addressing the valedictory session of the 77th State-Level Mega Job Fair at Amar Singh College, Srinagar, the Chief Minister said higher educational institutions must play a proactive role in connecting students with employment opportunities instead of limiting their responsibility to awarding degrees.
The Mega Job Fair was organised by Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, and Cluster University of Srinagar in collaboration with NIELIT, Nations Development Association (NDA) and MY Bharat.
The event was attended by Minister for Education Sakina Itoo, Commissioner Secretary School Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Vice Chancellor of Cluster University Srinagar, vice chancellors of several universities across Jammu and Kashmir, President of Desh Bhagat University Dr. Sandeep Singh, principals, deans, faculty members and students.
Highlighting the outcomes of the recruitment drive, Omar Abdullah said nearly 5,300 candidates registered for the job fair, with around 470 candidates receiving job offers and another 430 reaching the final stage of recruitment, pending interview formalities. He said nearly 900 young men and women had either secured employment or were close to being recruited, describing the achievement as a significant success for an initiative still in its formative stage.
The Chief Minister termed the event a milestone for Cluster University Srinagar and said it demonstrated the potential of structured campus recruitment in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for institutionalising campus recruitment across all universities and colleges in the Union Territory, including the University of Kashmir, Islamic University of Science and Technology, University of Jammu, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, and other higher educational institutions.
He said students should have access to recruitment opportunities before completing their academic programmes, enabling a smoother transition from education to employment.
Stressing that merely stating government jobs are not the solution to unemployment is insufficient, Omar Abdullah said the government must actively create alternative opportunities for young people.
"If we cannot provide government employment to every young person, it becomes our responsibility to create more opportunities through private sector engagement, skill development and industry partnerships," he said.
The Chief Minister also underlined the importance of promoting entrepreneurship alongside employment generation. He said the government is strengthening the startup ecosystem by facilitating access to venture capital funding and institutional support for aspiring entrepreneurs to help them establish and expand their businesses.
Reaffirming his government's commitment, Omar Abdullah said every effort would be made to ensure that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir receive employment and career opportunities comparable to those available elsewhere in the country and abroad.
Congratulating the candidates who secured placements during the recruitment drive, the Chief Minister wished them success in their careers and expressed confidence that those who had reached the final stages of selection would also soon receive employment offers.
Earlier, Omar Abdullah handed over appointment letters to candidates selected through the campus recruitment process.
On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Cluster University of Srinagar and Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, aimed at strengthening academic collaboration, promoting skill development and enhancing employment opportunities for students.
The Mega Job Fair brought together more than 50 reputed employers from across the country, including companies with operations in the Gulf and Middle East. It offered graduates, postgraduates, diploma holders and skilled youth direct employment opportunities through on-the-spot interviews, screening and recruitment, while also providing career counselling and industry exposure.
