Udhampur, Oct 04: MLA Ranbir Singh Pathania on Friday criticized the Jammu and Kashmir government for failing to implement central youth empowerment programs effectively, calling attention to the gap between national vision and local action.
Speaking at the Youth Parliament Competition held at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Jaganoo (Udhampur East), Pathania said schemes launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, aimed at skill development, entrepreneurship, internships, and overall youth empowerment, have largely failed to reach intended beneficiaries in the Union Territory.
He highlighted shortcomings in flagship programs such as the Himayat Scheme, which was designed to train 53,547 youth but reached only 4,494, with just 732 securing placements and over ₹314 crore reportedly unutilized. Similarly, the Udaan Scheme, intended to provide corporate exposure and skill development, has faced delays and limited coverage. Initiatives like Mission YUVA, Tejaswini, and Mission Youth have also struggled due to inadequate follow-up and bureaucratic hurdles, Pathania said.
“While India has moved towards youth-centric policies, more than 3.70 lakh young people in J&K remain unemployed, compared to the national youth unemployment rate of around 17%,” he stated. “This underscores the urgent need for focused implementation and oversight of central programs in the region.”
Pathania urged the government to establish district-level monitoring dashboards, mentorship programs, and direct industry linkages to connect training with employment. He also emphasized the creation of incubation centers, single-window youth facilitation hubs, and quarterly performance reviews to improve transparency and accountability.
The MLA also praised Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Jaganoo, for organizing the Youth Parliament Competition, noting its role in nurturing leadership, critical thinking, and civic awareness among students. He commended the staff and teachers for creating an engaging and motivating environment for participants.
Prominent attendees at the event included former Sarpanches, Panchs, school authorities, and youth participants from across Udhampur East constituency.
