SRINAGAR: Startling unemployment data has been revealed through a recent Right to Information (RTI) application, highlighting the dire situation faced by the youth in Jammu and Kashmir. The data obtained from the Directorate of Employment shows that out of nearly eight lakh registered unemployed individuals, two lakh are educated.
According to the report, as of May 31, 2023, a total of 199,872 educated individuals remain unemployed in the region. This revelation has sparked concerns about the lack of job opportunities and the potential consequences it may have on the economy and social stability.
When questioned about the existing employment programs and initiatives, both before and after the abrogation of Article 370, the Public Information Officer (PIO) at the Directorate of Employment disclosed crucial details.
The PIO stated that until 2015-16, the J&K Self Employment Scheme (JKSES) was being implemented to address the issue of unemployment among educated youth. However, during the budget announcements of 2015-16, the scheme was assimilated into the Seed Capital Scheme of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Institute (JKEDI).
The PIO further revealed that the department has now submitted guidelines for self-employment schemes, such as the Seed Capital Fund Scheme and Youth Start-up Loan, for implementation through the Directorate of Employment. Previously, these schemes were overseen by JKEDI. Additionally, proposals for the revival of the J&K Overseas Corporation are also under examination by the Administrative Department.
In response to inquiries about a survey conducted to assess the unemployment situation in J&K and find a permanent solution, the PIO disclosed, “The department conducted an unemployment survey in all districts of the Union Territory during March, April, and May 2022, in coordination with the District Administration.”
The survey, which covered all districts except Bandipora, reported a total of 663,511 unemployed youth as of May 31, 2022, in J&K. The reply also indicated that approximately 10-15 percent of these unemployed youth are self-employed, engaged in agriculture-related businesses, or run small shops in their respective villages.
The PIO clarified, “Therefore, the actual number of unemployed youth at the field level will be 563,984.” With a workforce of 80 lakh out of a total population of 130 lakh in the Union Territory, the unemployment rate stands at 7.04 percent.
Furthermore, during the 2022-23 period, the Directorate of Employment, through its District Employment and Counseling Centres, conducted an employment and unemployment survey by selecting one village in each tehsil as a First Stage Unit (FSU), according to the RTI response.
Based on the survey conducted across 206 tehsils, following the 2011 census, the unemployment rate was found to be approximately 8.31 percent; a distressing figure that calls for urgent attention and concrete measures to address the unemployment crisis.
The revealed data paints a grim picture of the unemployment situation in Jammu and Kashmir, indicating the need for comprehensive strategies and initiatives to generate employment opportunities and uplift the lives of the youth in the region. The findings of the RTI application serve as a wakeup call for authorities to prioritize addressing the pressing issue of unemployment and ensure a brighter future for the educated youth of J&K.
