Varmul, Jan 4: A 5-day employment fair began at the Government Higher Secondary School for Boys here to create awareness about various government-sponsored schemes for the benefit of educated job-seekers in the district. The idea is to encourage them for setting up their own income generating ventures.
 The deputy commissioner, Lateef-uz-Zaman Deva, inaugurated the fair at which 18 government departments and agencies have set up their stalls to showcase their schemes and financial assistances and other incentives available under them for the unemployed youth. The stalls screened various success stories depicted through video interviews and also displayed their products.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir, the deputy director, Employment, Ghulam Rasool Zargar, who is the nodal officer for organizing the employment fair, said over 400 unemployed youth visited the fair on the first day. He said the fair had been started under instructions from the chief minister, Omar Abdullah, as part of implementation of the employment policy launched all over the state on December 5 last year. 
KHALID GUL adds from Islamabad:
 A 5-day employment fair began here Monday as youth thronged the town hall to get information about various self employment schemes.
 During the fair inaugurated by deputy commissioner, Sheikh Mushtaq Ahmad, un-employed youth of the district would be educated about income generating schemes. About 25 departments set up stalls to educate the youth.
 However, several youth complained of complicated process in setting up a unit and asked for a flexible registration system.
 “The lackadaisical approach of officials and non- availability of guidance leads to disinterest among the young entrepreneurs,” said Nadeem Raja, a post graduate in management. He said a check list should be made available by the District Industries Centre to provide sector-wise requirements to establish a unit.
 An unemployed agriculture graduate, Shafqat, said prevailing corrupt was a hurdle in setting up of units.
 “Officials demand bribe for finalizing each and every formality, leaving us with no option but to give up the proposal,” he said.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:00 IST