Rural Youth in J&K lack access, not talent

S K Sharma

The youth of rural Jammu and Kashmir possess immense talent, yet they face profound challenges that demand sustained guidance, mentorship, opportunity, and institutional support. The region's unemployment rate for youth aged 15 to 29 stood at 17.4% in 2023-24, compared to a national average of 10.2%. Shockingly, between July and September 2024, approximately 32% of youth in this demographic were jobless, marking the highest rate in the country. The distressing plight of educated, unemployed youth cannot be undermined, with 3.57 lakh individuals of icially registered as jobless. This educated unemployment rate sits at 23.3%, primarily driven by a severe mismatch between academic degrees and market needs. Academic curriculums lag behind modern employer demands, and training centers continue to focus on outdated trades. Compounding this crisis, Jammu and Kashmir suffers from a small manufacturing base, modest IT penetration, and limited startup investment, making advanced AI tools a far-fetched dream. Higher education institutions are heavily concentrated in cities and towns, creating a barrier for rural youth who often cannot relocate due to inancial constraints and family obligations. Hilly and rural areas face a stark de icit of schools, colleges, and quali ied trainers, compounded by highly uneven digital access. Economic hardships, poor transportation, and the immediate pressure to earn livelihood force many rural students to abandon their education. Furthermore, the female literacy rate stands at 58%-a staggering 20% lower than that of males-and drops even further in rural belts. Meanwhile, agriculture is widely perceived as unglamorous, unpro itable, and back-breaking, driving rural youth toward urban migration.

This pervasive joblessness frequently leads to stress, anxiety, and substance abuse, leaving many feeling alienated from both their villages and towns. Notably, 60.97% of juveniles in con lict with the law share a rural background. It is clear that youth from the rural, border, and hilly terrains of J&K do not lack innate talent, as evidenced by their success in the UPSC examinations, yet their overall representation remains low. During a recent visit to Zirakpur, the author encountered numerous teenage students staying at a local hotel. Interacting with them revealed an inspiring initiative: the Himachal Pradesh government selects bright students who secure over 95% marks in their 10th and 12th standards and provides them with free boarding, lodging, and academic exposure. Experienced faculty members mentor them to broaden their vision and build capacities for various critical life paths. This successful model desperately needs to be replicated in Jammu and Kashmir. Beyond career opportunities, there is an urgent need to build institutional frameworks that foster emotional quotient (EQ), happiness quotient (HQ), health awareness, sports, art, and literature. Currently, J&K lacks both the necessary infrastructure and skilled trainers. A comprehensive, drive-based plan must be charted out to grant rural talents access to these developmental facilities. By comparison, Australia, with a population of just 2.5 crores, wins numerous international sports medals because of its robust sports culture and a system that minimizes undue stress on youth, fostering excellent physical and mental well-being. Gender disparities further impact the economy.

In China, over 45% of women are in gainful employment, whereas in India, that igure drops below 25%. In J&K, rural women encounter speci ic barriers, including traditional mindsets that deem them un it for business, safety concerns that restrict their mobility to the home, and regional con lict that heightens insecurity. They also face a lack of inancial backing and training, as banks remain reluctant to lend to those with low literacy and minimal skill development. While the government has launched initiatives like 'Mission Youth' and 'Mumkin' to promote entrepreneurship, alongside push for agricultural reforms like modern irrigation and high-yield infrastructure, these digital and economic programs are only beginning to trickle into a few villages. Because landholdings in J&K are small and lacking in large-scale landlords, agricultural income is no longer a viable sole option for rural youth. Additionally, the region's geographical dead-end status makes traditional manufacturing units economically unviable.

As a consumer state, J&K's traders achieve horizontal expansion but rarely experience vertical growth. Consequently, the service sector remains the most viable foundation for economic advantage, which can only be unlocked by equipping youth with high-grade, specialized skills. To achieve this, government machinery must align with modern market demands, and private players should be invited to collaborate. While NGOs and social platforms are eager to contribute, periodic ef iciency and performance audits must be conducted. The Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode must be strengthened to extend institutional access to talented youth. Ultimately, while these efforts are vital to secure livelihoods, life is far greater than mere survival; boosting EQ, HQ, and happiness indicators is essential to raising a healthy, happy, and vibrant generation.

(The author IRS Officer, Retd.)