J&K LG receptive to discussion on financial support to unemployed youth, artisans & craftsmen in Kashmir: Soz

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Saifuddin Soz said on Wednesday that in a meeting with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, he had raised several issues of public interest including financial support to unemployed youth, artisans and craftsmen in Kashmir, who are suffering financial stringency during COVID-19.

“In my first meeting with Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha last evening, I raised several issues of public interest including financial support to unemployed youth, artisans and craftsmen in Kashmir, who are suffering financial stringency during the COVID-19,” Soz said in a press statement.

“I pleaded strongly with the Lt. Governor that while I appreciate his initiative to help the construction workers, the UT govt. should consider helping the artisans and craftsmen during these difficult days of COVID-19. He assured me to consult the experts and do the needful,” he said.

“Among other issues, I pleaded strongly for the exhumation of bodies of three citizens of Rajouri, who got killed due to the misuse of AFSPA at Shopian on 18th July, 2020. I also pleaded that the bodies should be handed over to the families concerned,” he said.

“I found Lt. Governor eager to solve the difficulties of the people within his control,” Soz added.

“On one thing, he was quite clear and it was that the artisans and craftsmen deserve the same treatment as given to construction workers,” he said.

“I also raised the question regarding growing unemployment of youth, especially, educated unemployed youth. Sinha agreed that this sector should get more attention. I further raised a question on the J&K Bank which has not been answering questions about norms of employment and the level of bad loans accumulated in years,” Soz said.