Despite having limited employment opportunities in government and private sector, the people of J&K particularly Kashmiri youth are unable to en-cash it. Many employment notifications and opportunities are not responded by the able, sincere and capable persons due to casting of shadows on it in one pretext or the other. When we talk about the education then we have to create adequate employment opportunities to the students of different streams completing their studies. We are answerable before our youth who are unable to choose right decision at right time and make their futurebetter. We have the major employment opportunities in:-
1)To elected people through political process
2)Employment in banking industry and market sectors.
3)Employment in government services
4)Employment in private sector
To elect people through political process.
To elect people through political process is one of the major employment opportunity across globe. Different countries have their own electoral process and set procedure to elect people at gross root level for smooth and transparent functioning. Many forums have entrusted powers by a particular country to pass the laws known as senate, assembly or parliament. Lower level of elected bodies have limited powers to deliver. Just to point out the loopholes, try to make them correct and initiate steps to eradicate it. Due to unfortunate political uncertainty in Kashmir for the past decades it is not possible for people to participate in election process in order to elect their genuine, sincere and able well educated representative. It will not only strength the administrative structure of each tensil, district or constituency but also help in providing a smooth &cordial atmosphere even at village level. The election boycott and its other related unseen risks cast shadows on this big employment opportunity for the youth of state. We are lacking far behind not only in scientific, technological or medical sector but we are unable to create a genuine and able political structure of the state. Our much old aged leaders are running the affairs of the state with their past experiences which would have run by our young energetic and able leaders with the help of experience as well. Number of persons died in this process of exercise which could have been averted by showing a maturity & wisdom.
Employment in banking industry& market sector
Every year thousands of job opportunities are providing in banking industry with adequate salary and other perks and allowances. Recently banking industry has notified many posts in different categories for employment of youth belongs to J&K. Banking industry is considered the second largest sector of providing employment opportunities after government services. To seek job in this sector also remained debatable. It is also shaded by the debates on “interest” or “interest-free” banking. By infusing “interest-free” option in the minds of our young and able generation while choosing an employment in banking sector, we are relating it to a particular religion. If it would have been an interest free banking alongwith the conventional banking in Indian Banking System then the argument of choosing “interest-free” employment in banking industry holds good. Here again we are losing the talented personnel, by looking banking sector into “interest” and “interest-free” option. It would have been in the interests of banking industry if a good persons will have to choose to opt their career in banking. They may have been able to transform the whole banking scenario from the current sickness to much better level. I personally know one of a Kashmiri who is presently working as a Risk Analyst in foreign bank and is holding the charge of board of directors.
Investment is one of good business opportunity and income generation tool. It needs knowledge and wisdom in order to make a profit out of it. By investment we can earn sufficient money to run the daily affairs of our life. We are looking into the advertisements in television and other print media that one can invest from very low amount of money to a big amount in the market subject to having good marketing skills and knowledge. The said sector is also shaded into by disturbing and painful environment.
Employment in government services
The government services are advertised in one year and their process of completion takes too much time. It has been seen that a person who applied for a particular government job at a particular time of notification had interviewed when he was over aged. Many government department do not advertise even their vacant posts years together. Creation of new posts for new job assignments is far away because of our government department remain busy in managing their daily routine leisure time. Very few people in our society do not favour and pass the remarks that when a person got employed in any government department he or she should use other means also to manage their daily needs like unethical practices.
Employment in private sector
Many areas and places came under disturbed areas around the world but they are managing to run their business by proper strategy. Due to prevailing situation in J&K it is not possible to do much better in private sector. Jammu division and Kashmir division are interdependent in case of running business. If there is any adverse features in business activities in Kashmir its direct impact is observed in Jammu Division. Similarly, when there is any Bandh call or natural calamity in Jammu division its impact is directly on the business of Kashmir.
We are lacking in plan, policy and strategy for educated youth both at government level and society as a whole. We have to think over it as early as possible and come up with a concrete measures in order to safeguard the interests of our youth which is ultimately in the interests of J&K. Else we are seeing the ruining of life our young generation and became sick using mobile. They became the victims of smoking, drugs and other unethical practices just because of our ignorance towards them.
Shabir Ahmad Shah Writes of socio-economic issues and can be reached at shabir_anas@yahoo.com
