Monitor News Bureau
Srinagar, Jan 23: Social media surveillance, youth clubs, police-public meetings, and cricket tournaments are part of the “numerous steps” the government is taking to “wean away” Kashmir youth from militancy and other “anti-national” activities.
The information was recently shared by the Jammu and Kashmir government in its written reply to a question asked by BJP legislator Sat Paul Sharma during the ongoing Assembly session in Jammu.
“Surveillance on social media has been enhanced, as social media plays a major role in radicalization of youth. Youth clubs have been established at police station levels to facilitate them with information technology, indoor games etc. to keep them away from the menace of terrorism,” read a part of the reply.
It added that organising cricket tournaments under “Civic Action Programme” too was among the steps government was taking to “engage” youth.
Along with it, the trend of police-public meeting, especially with the senior citizens, as per the reply, was being facilitated for counselling the youth.
All this was done to “allay their (youth’s) misgiving if any and motivate them for contributing to the development of the State.
The government’s current stand was also corroborated by a report last year as per which the state and a few of its educational institutions, including a chain of private schools, had received funds under ‘Khelo India’, a sports scheme with a similar objective.
As for social media surveillance, the government recently came out with a social media policy for its employees, openly talking of increased surveillance and at one point gave a subtle warning against any ‘misdemeanour’.
“Employees should be aware that the law enforcement agencies will observe content and information made available by them through social media. They should use their best judgment in posting material that is neither inappropriate nor harmful to the State,” read the government’s official paper on Social Media guidelines.
