Para demand jobs, environmental safeguards, fast-track courts

Jammu, Mar 15: Lashing out at the government over ballooning unemployment, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para Saturday said that locals should be given the first right on land, jobs, and other regional resources.

Speaking to reporters outside the House, Para said, “Our jobs, resources, and land have been put on sale.”

He stressed the need for restrictions to ensure that locals were prioritised in employment and resource allocation.

“The locals of J&K should have first right over the land, jobs, and contracts,” Para said.

Earlier, speaking on the floor of the House regarding the Demand for Grants, Para raised similar other concerns.

Drawing attention to the soaring unemployment, he said that J&K had the highest unemployment rate in the country.

“The BJP government had promised development and industrialisation. However, today, J&K has a 32 percent unemployment rate - higher than ever before. For just 1000 to 1500 posts, there are 7 lakh applications,” Para said.

He said that the recruitment agencies generated crores of rupees through job applications and yet these processes were riddled with scams.

“They are bleeding the youth dry,” Para said.

He said J&K’s 60 percent population comprises youth.

“Instead of creating jobs and promoting development, the government is snatching what people already have,” Para said.

He said that a large number of youth were caught in the throes of drugs and depression.

“It is also because of soaring unemployment,” Para said.

Warning about the environmental cost of unchecked development, he said that it had taken a toll on the environment.

“Our water table has gone down as we have faced protracted dry spells,” Para said.

He said that they wanted to preserve the identity of J&K while pursuing development “that does not come at the cost of environment”.

Para said that the region’s high tourist inflow was a result of preserving its environment.

“We have secured our water bodies, forests, and glaciers,” he said.

Para said that he wanted the environmental assessment of the developmental projects and the involvement of people in these projects.

Criticising the government for lowering the import levies on the US apples, Parra said that the government should focus on investing in agro-industries.

“But it is reducing the stamp duty on American apples and it will undercut the local produce,” Parra said.

He said that the priority of the government should be facilitating local growers, entrepreneurs, and startups.

“But the local startups are being shut down,” Para alleged.

He said that there was a pressing need for reforms in the criminal justice system.

“We want the government to set up effective and fast-track courts to ensure timely justice,” Para said.

He said that the prolonged cycle of repeated hearings must come to an end.