Anantnag, Oct 28 Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday appealed to the youth of Kashmir to join in building a new Kashmir.

Inaugurating the Anantnag-Qazigund rail link here, Dr. Singh said: "I understand their frustration. But things are changing. I urge them to think constructively about how to build their futures."

"We have to speed up the pace of development in the state. We have to reverse the brain drain that has denuded the state of many of its teachers, doctors, engineers and intellectuals. We have to create the conditions for them to return and to be the instruments of change and development. We want to strengthen the hands of the State Govt. so that they can implement an ambitious development agenda," he added.

He said the Central Government would make all efforts to involve the youth of the State in constructive work.

"Under the "Skill Development to Employment" Programme, the Ministry of Tourism will train 300 youths of the State. In addition, 200 youths will be trained and deployed as tourist escorts during the Amarnath and Vaishno Devi Yatras," he said.

Speaking on development of the IT sector in Jammu and Kashmir, he said: "We will fully support the efforts of the State in this area. I am happy that more than 600 youth of the State trained under a Central Government project have been employed in the IT sector recently."

"I am happy to announce that the Government of India has decided to set up two Central Universities in Jammu and Kashmir, one in Jammu and one in Kashmir," he added.

The Prime Minister also urged that the elections to local bodies be held quickly. This will increase the people's participation in the processes of development.

On cleaning of the Dal Lake, he said: "We have been funding a project for the conservation of the lake but progress has been low. I would urge the State Government to set up a task force to expedite the project. The Centre has decided to commit additional unds of Rs. 356 cr for this project," he said. (ANI)