Shortage of Doctors in J&K

Govt. sends 16 highly qualified Doc to Saudi, under Overseas employment plan

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, May 05: While Jammu and Kashmir is facing acute shortage of doctors to run its health institutions, government has helped in emigration of 16 highly qualified medical professionals to Saudi Arabia through J&K State Overseas Employment Corporation Limited.

Official data says that the corporation which was established to explore employment opportunities for local youth in foreign countries has mostly helped highly trained and qualified professionals to immigrate to other countries.

Officials said that corporation has emerged as a major avenue for the professionals to leave state for better opportunities out J&K.

Member of Legislative Assembly, Hakim Muhammad Yasin, who had also raised the issue in Legislative Assembly said that government has just provided data of doctors, what about other professionals. “Rather than helping skilled and non-skilled people to avail the benefit, it is emerging as open window for highly professional people to leave the state”, said Yasin.

It is pertinent to mention here that Corporation was established after coalition government announced a policy document titled, Sher-e-Kashmir Employment and Welfare programme for Youth (SKEWPY) in 2009.

Nearly 6 lakh educated youth have been registered with the District Employment and Counseling centers of state ending December-2011. Officials said that Overseas Corporation was incorporated as a public limited company with an authorized capital of Rs 5 lakh crore under the Companies Act by the Registrar of Companies.

The Corporation started functioning and data base of the candidates seeking overseas placement is being generated through District Employment and Counseling Centres. Corporation has recently begun contacting foreign embassies for empanelling itself as recruitment agency for their respective governments.

It is pertinent to mention here that under SKEWPY number of scheme were launched by the state government. One such scheme is VSA, under which unemployed youth are provided Rs 600 to Rs 1200 per month. So far 33862 youth have been covered under the scheme with government distributing Rs. 18.27 crore till December 2011.

The state government has launched another special scheme called Seed capital Fund Scheme (SCFC) under SKEWPY. As per data, during 2011, 812 projects involving 859 entrepreneurs with total project cost of Rs 82.65 crore including seed capital subsidy of Rs 26.70 crore and loan working capital of Rs 53.73 crore have been sanctioned.

J&K Self Employment Scheme (JKSES) under this scheme margin money, interest subsidy and bank loan is being provided to the young entrepreneurs, 2704 beneficiaries were covered last year with government assistance of Rs 24.35 crore. During current year the covering upo ending January 2012 was 2781 entrepreneurs involving expenditure of Rs 25.18 crore.

Minister for Labour and Employment Abdul Gani Malik said that government is making every effort to provide employment opportunities to youth.

“Our concern is to provide opportunities to every professional. We cannot negate anyone”, said Malik.