Shamim Shah
Youth empowerment is often addressed as a stepping stone for equality, better civic engagement and democracy building. Local, state, national and international government agencies and non-profit community-based organisation provide many programs centred around youth for their betterment. Each party which has some stake in the government always has some action and statements supporting youth empowerment. The beneficial outcome to youth empowerment includes improved social skill, improved behaviour, increased academic glory and increased self-esteem & efficiency.
The process of alienation in Kashmir is deep rooted which started with the insurgency. For long population in the area has not seen peaceful life. The political parties of region have behaved like a religious dictator and threatened locals so that they don’t join mainstream. They misused the concept of secularism for taking power and exploited the faith of the locals, especially of the young boys and girls. Poor industrial infrastructure and lack of jobs in the valley is also the prime reason for frustration amongst the youth. System was a complete vicious cycle and youths were caught in that game plan. They had no expectations from any government as the slow rate of growth has taken them back and presence of civil unrest has been a major fall out. Ceasefire violation by Pakistan and its effect on the border villages compounded the problems of youths. Continuous provocation through non state actor in the valley has always been an issue for disturbance in the region. The education and healthcare system has taken a toil because of unstable government and rise of self-pronounced religious teachers was also a major factor for youth alienation in the Kashmir.
There are several steps taken by both state and central government for empowering these youth. Government has realised that to put the state and nation on a high trajectory of growth and development it is imperative to empower and educate youth of Kashmir. There are many initiatives like “Operation Sadbhavana”, “Mission youth”, “Youth adult partnership”, “Tejaswini” & “Mission mumkin” run by the government. All these are an all-inclusive program to bring the interest of locals to the centre of policy making. There are also various steps taken by government in the field of medical like opening of new medical colleges and research centres to bring better minds to the centre stage. Targets for these developments have been individuals between the age group of 15 to 30 years with two folds aim first being to support and encourage youth to fulfil their aspirations and second to address needs and concerns to shape future as per their wants.
The infrastructure of the hospitals in terms of building, space, technology, latest biomedical equipment has been upgraded. The problem of shortage of skilled manpower and better equipment have also been addressed. Emergency medical facilities have started as part of improved healthcare delivery. Functional emergency department have been set up in all district and they remain available 24 X 7. The bed strength and medical staff have also been increased to better facilitate the locals of Kashmir.
As part of overall development of valley government of India is working towards transforming the healthcare system of Jammu & Kashmir. There have been numerous initiative taken by government to help and improve the infrastructure and overall healthcare facilities and several have been achieved over the past few years in the state. The SEHAT scheme has been launched to provide welfare measure for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. The ambitious health care scheme for the locals to avail cash less medical facilities have been started to make medical things smooth in the valley. Earlier it was only four medical colleges in complete area and now seven more colleges have been inaugurated and work on the same has started with full speed. Work is also currently under progress for two All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) in Sambha and Awantipura at the cost of Rupees 2000 crore each. Plan of the central government is to establish four AIIMS by the year 2025. Government has opened five medical colleges which are now functional at Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda and Kathua and they have started with their academic session for one year M.B.B.S courses.
Fund has been sanctioned by the government for opening of cancer institute in the state at a cost of 120 crore and work for same has started in the month of June 2022. The medical education department has also proposed opening of two medical universities in Jammu and Srinagar. 500 Bedded hospital has just been completed at Srinagar at the cost of 116 crore. 900 crore has been spended on modernisation of all hospital. During the pandemic also assistance of rupees 1000 per month was given to approx. 1.8 lakhs medical worker and rupees 55 crore was given for COVID mitigation measures. Establishment of two medicities are also under planning which will set up best infrastructure in UT of J&K. Indeed development effort have picked up in the UT of J&K and there has been marked improvement in the healthcare sector.
Youths are an amazing things which are the real hope of society and the actual strength of our nation. Poverty eradication, crime reduction and improvement in education standards are few benefits which society achieve by youth empowerment. J&K for so long has waited to see these positive changes but now it seems that fearful era is over and sense of security has started prevailing in the society. The local’s faith in security forces is also increasing day by day and terrorist acts have decreased abruptly in the valley. Hopefully with this trend Kashmir will become a terrorist free state and go on to become a next start-up hub of the country.
