JKCSF expresses grave concern over growing unemployment in IIOJK
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Civil Society Forum (JKCSF) has expressed serious concern over the rising unemployment among youth in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling it a pressing social and economic challenge that demands immediate attention.
According to Kashmir Media Service, JKCSF Chairman Abdul Qayoom Wani, in a statement issued in Srinagar, said thousands of educated, skilled and qualified young men and women are spending the most productive years of their lives waiting for limited government job opportunities. He said that while government recruitment remains important, it cannot absorb the ever-growing number of educated youth. “The mindset that a government job is the only source of dignity, stability and social respect must change,” Wani said. He stressed that private employment, entrepreneurship, agriculture, horticulture, tourism, handicrafts, technology, freelancing, skilled trades and small businesses can provide equally dignified and sustainable livelihoods.
Wani said there was a dire need to address the growing culture of inactivity among unemployed youth. He called for encouraging young people to acquire new skills, undertake vocational training and explore opportunities in emerging sectors such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, e-commerce and online services. He also stressed that career counselling must become an integral part of the educational system. “Schools, colleges, universities, employment departments, civil society organisations and community institutions should guide young people about changing employment trends and help them make realistic career choices,” he said.
Parents must also encourage children to pursue skills and entrepreneurship rather than measuring success only through government jobs, he added. Announcing that JKCSF will organise a seminar involving all stakeholders to discuss the issue, Wani said a joint strategy is needed to help the youth overcome this challenge.
He warned that unemployment has wider consequences including financial dependence, delayed marriages, frustration and growing social problems. “The loss is not merely economic; it is a loss of human potential,” he said.
“The youth of Jammu and Kashmir possess immense talent, intelligence and creativity. What they need is proper guidance, skill development, opportunities and a change in social attitude towards work. Every year spent waiting is a year that cannot be recovered. Waiting should never become a career. It is time to replace dependency with productivity, skills, entrepreneurship and self-reliance,” Wani said. He said the future of Jammu and Kashmir depends substantially on how effectively the energy and potential of the young generation is utilised.
