Javeed Beigh
The state of Jammu & Kashmir because of its geographical and cultural differences the Kashmiris have maintained a separate identity despite their incorporation into Indian State long ago. J&K contributes to the Indian economy with a 7.05% increase in its GDP. J&K’s youth is the major driving factor for this growth. There has been a huge increase in MSME enterprises since the past 5 years. Education gives impetus to growth and development not only to the state but also binds the Under Territory (UT) together into an integrated whole. However, the people of Jammu and Kashmir remained deprived from the education and the employment opportunities. As a matter of fact, the UT has a good percentage of educated youth but unfortunately their limited outlook becomes a barrier to acknowledge the latest study trends and opportunities. The growing rate of illiteracy is a great concern and also one of the greatest factors affecting the peace and stability. The growing insecurity, unemployment, disillusionment and discontent among the youth has given rise to many antisocial and anti-national activities in the state.
The alarming dimensions of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is growing day by day, adding thousands of literates and illiterate due to mismatch and economic distress. The District Employment and Counselling Centres of Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a large number of registrations by the unemployed youth with an alarming number up to 190%. In year 2008, registration were 1,06,130 in numbers which in December year 2013 increased by 3,07,827. Although this data has it’s limitation like not all the unemployed youth have registered under unemployment registrations. Therefore, in order to get control over unemployment, the government has tried their best and introduced policies by revoking article 370 so as to create new job opportunities by setting up new business and companies for betterment of the Kashmiris, thus allowing the flow of money and supplies.
The Union Territory government of Jammu and Kashmir did not allow individuals to employ state individuals could not buy any immovable property in Jammu & Kashmir but after the revocation it has been permitted, this will help to create new job opportunities for the youth and also Scholarship can be provided outsiders can by immovable properties as it will help to create new job opportunities for the youth. Scholarship can be provided by outsider in order for development of employment and education. Minority can now have 16% reservation for Education and employment. Land rates have also increased, better medical facilities and hospitals are available in the UT for the citizens. Now government can also provide better educational facilities like NIT and IIT in the UT offering new job opportunities so that the students and other employees don’t have to travel to other states in India in search of job and education. It will ultimately help to curb the Anti National activities in the UT.
Now government has to attract new private companies to Jammu and Kashmir providing infrastructural development. This will help to reduce number of unemployed graduates and also the Government must aim to encourage and create awareness among the Kashmiris to open new businesses in order to provide employment to other once. This will help to reduce unemployment. This will also ensure stability, peace and mutual Co-Operation in the UT.
There was lack of government facilities, before Abrogation of Article 370 and there was no state government to run the state efficiently. Also, the schools and colleges were at far distance from villages and towns and due to lack of transportation the children were not able to attend schools. Due to this many students drop out, thus discontinued their further studies. The natural calamities like wind storm, earthquakes, floods, landslides create hurdle for students to reach the school. There are no government schools and better private schools which provide education at low cost and in an efficient manner to children from villages. It is a matter of that there is no private university in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a big problem for youth and therefore more than 20,000 students from Jammu and Kashmir study in difference parts of India.
Before revocation of Article , higher education all across Indian states on born it was not the case in Jammu & Kashmir, However the education sector will boom through Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. It will help with Abrogation of article 370, there will be manifold development in the technology Sector, industrial infrastructure sector etc. Development in technology help in education system. Therefore, the literacy level and employment opportunities will rise facilitating a better life.
The government must focus on providing more infrastructure development by initiating new schemes so that private universities can invest their resources in constructing schools near village and towns so that it is easily accessible to students. The education institutions should provide some transportation facilities to those areas where students face problems to reach school and if it is not possible for students to reach school then institutions should send the teachers to their location to provide education. Government should encourage e-learning in Jammu and Kashmir by creating awareness among the people which will help the students learn from home. Teachers who are highly qualified and experienced can record their lectures and upload on internet and students can access them.
The creation of employment opportunities for the youth Jammu of Kashmir and development of educational infrastructure are the two key factors which were neglected by youth to get indoctrinated in live of some money and take up arms against the armed forces of India the successive governments in the past. Unemployment is the key cause for local youth to join terrorist outfits and took up arms against the armed forces of the country. The governments in past failed to have well defined job policies and infrastructure developments plans to fulfil the aspirations of the youth of Kashmir to pursue the higher education in the state itself.
