Jammu: National Conference leader Rattan Lal Gupta has criticized the Lieutenant Governor-led administration in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir for the alarming unemployment situation in the region. Gupta attributes the job crisis to the casual approach adopted by Governor rule, which he claims has exacerbated the economic challenges faced by the youth.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, Gupta made these remarks while engaging with party functionaries from the Jammu region. The party workers shared their experiences, highlighting the hardships stemming from what they described as the administration’s indifferent stance towards employment issues.

Citing statistics from the Periodic Labour Force Survey by the Indian Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Gupta pointed out that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest youth unemployment rate in India, standing at 32%, with female unemployment at 53.6%. He argued that these figures illustrate the severe employment crisis in the region, making it the focal point of youth joblessness in the country. The report also noted that unemployment among job seekers aged 15-29 in urban areas was particularly high, stressing the need for urgent corrective actions.

Gupta held the LG administration accountable for failing to create job opportunities and address economic stagnation over the past decade. He emphasized that the administration’s lack of focus on employment has led to an escalating crisis, as it remained indifferent to the challenges faced by the youth.