by: Jehangir Malik
By any measure, the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are caught in a storm of uncertainty. As of January 2025, a staggering 370,811 educated young people are registered as unemployed — 213,007 from the Kashmir Valley and 157,804 from Jammu. These numbers are more than just statistics; they reflect lost dreams, frustrated ambitions, and a generation teetering on the edge of despair.
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This is not merely an economic issue — it is a social crisis with far-reaching implications. The psychological impact on young people is devastating. According to recent findings, 67.33% of unemployed youth are grappling with mental health challenges, while 87.33% are facing severe financial hardships. The emotional strain of being unable to contribute meaningfully to one’s family or society leads to a sense of isolation, helplessness, and disillusionment.
Our young people feel unheard, unseen, and undervalued now. Their frustration is growing, not because they are unwilling to work, but because the opportunities simply do not exist. A region once rich with potential now finds itself with a generation unsure of where to turn next.
And yet, amid this bleak picture lies an opportunity — a chance to reverse the damage, to redefine our priorities, and to place youth empowerment at the heart of our policy decisions. This crisis, while deeply concerning, must also be a wake-up call. The status quo is unsustainable. We cannot continue to churn out graduates with no clear path forward. We need systemic change — not in years, but now.
Empowerment must go beyond just employment. It’s not enough to offer short-term contracts or politically motivated job schemes. What the youth of Jammu and Kashmir need is a sustainable, inclusive economic vision that recognizes their talent, invests in their potential, and equips them with skills for the modern workforce. This includes vocational training, entrepreneurship programs, digital literacy, and support for local startups and small businesses.
Moreover, mental health support must become a central part of any strategy moving forward. We cannot expect our youth to thrive when they are silently suffering. Counseling centers, peer-support networks, and awareness campaigns need to be integrated into the public sphere.
The government, private sector, civil society, and the youth themselves must come together with urgency and commitment. It’s not just about jobs — it’s about restoring hope. It’s about giving this generation the confidence that their lives matter, that their voices are heard, and that they have a future worth fighting for.
Jammu and Kashmir has always been a land of resilience, culture, and beauty. Let us now make it a place where our youth can dream without fear, strive without restraint, and succeed without leaving their homeland behind. The time to act is not tomorrow — it is today.
After a solid run in banking, Jehangir Malik returned to his first passion—journalism. Armed with a master’s degree in the field, he’s now diving back into storytelling.
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