Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has reviewed the work of the Expert Group set up by him to prepare a job plan for Jammu and Kashmir and directed them to ensure that the opportunities generated were sustainable. The Group,headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan,met the Prime Minister last evening for a review of the progress of the tasks assigned to them. "The Prime Minister desired that the group take into account all relevant aspects,like skill enhancement,education and appropriate involvement of civil society and industry,so that employment opportunities generated are sustainable," said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Singh asked the group to give due regard to equity considerations,in terms of various regions of the state,sectors of the economy,levels of skill and gender,it said. The Expert Group assured the Prime Minister that his suggestions would be taken into account and its report would be ready within three months. The Group outlined the range if short and long term measures being considered by it for a focussed impact on enhancing the employment opportunities and improving the employabililty prospects of people of the state,both within the state and in the larger national economy,the PMO statement said. Singh had set up the panel of experts on August 10 to formulate a job plan for Jammu and Kashmir that has some 3,00,000 unemployed youth.
