Wg. Cdr Mahesh Chander Sudan (Retd)
We, the people of JKUT, are concerned to note unprecedented rise of unemployment shown as per latest survey of Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) conducted during Nov 2021. It is disturbing to accept that Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir stands second to have higher rate of unemployment at 21.4% in the survey conducted across the nation for 25 states/UTs whereas the national rate for the period of survey stands at 7%. It is noteworthy to mention that there are states like Gujrat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, and Meghalaya recording less than 2%. Odisha stands best achiever at 0.6% and Haryana the last in tally with 29.3%. Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy works out rate of unemployment based on comprehensive surveys carried out throughout India except for the north eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. The rate of unemployment is estimated from data collected regarding the employment/ unemployment status of all members of 15 years and more of a sample of randomly selected households. A person who is above 15 years of age and actively seeking employment but fails to obtain gainful employment is considered unemployed. Unemployment rate is a vital indicator of financial health of a state and CMIE produces daily and monthly rate of unemployment in India, rural India and Urban India and for states of India for free public consumption and corrective action by ruling dispensation.
It is true that a society that can provide gainful employment to adult labour force is largely healthy and free of economic vulnerability. An increase in unemployment on the other hand reduces aggregate spending power, slows down the economy and most importantly it increases the vulnerability of households to deal with economic shocks. Especially so, when the system fails to provide democratically elected popular government for a long period or fails to stabilize dispensation of governance otherwise through constitutionally established alternate. The youths of Jammu and Kashmir especially female adults are bearing unprecedented shock of unemployment as per latest survey of CMIE. Long duration lock downs during ongoing COVID pandemic have also increased unemployment across the spectrum of economic activities. Economy of J&K depends largely on tourism and this sector suffered not only during pandemic but also due to uncertain political environment since 2018 that significantly damaged employability of the youths. There is large number of vacant posts in government departments, many of them are functioning at 50% strength and it requires special recruitment drives at all levels to employ job seekers so that people of J&K are not deprived of service delivery and the employable human resource is gainfully engaged in nation building. It is also true that the contribution of private sector is comparatively weak in the Union Territory for various reasons and a long term plan towards industrialization needs to be worked out involving major corporates.
To contain unemployment, a holistic approach for developing and turning young minds towards entrepreneurship would make them job provider rather than job seekers. The onus of responsibility rests with Government to either hold employment drives for fulfilling vacant posts or encourage private entrepreneurs to expand scope of employment. The uncertainty emerging post 05 Aug 2019 when the erstwhile state of J&K was divided into two union territories added fuel to fire. It is also a fact that Home Minister of India while moving Reorganization bill declared that the intended modification had been made to correct the prevailing failure of governance by an elected coalition government. He also highlighted that it would not only address the security scenario but usher J&K into era of development. The hapless youths of J&K are yet waiting for promised job opportunities like other ordinary citizens of JK for restoration of democratic rights to them so that they are allowed to democratically form popular government like other states/UTs of Indian Union. The ground reality fails to match the claims.
Surging unemployment as indicated by the national surveys conducted by CMIE testifies lack of efforts by the ruling dispensation despite the fact that Union Territory is administered through Lieutenant Governor appointed and guided directly by the Union Government. Inadequate governance dispensed through a miniscule set of Government under LG would hardly make any substantial change in the scenario of unemployment and would allow the situation to be more critical and disastrous for the youths of Jammu and Kashmir. No magical solution would emerge of its own and it therefore needs well-coordinated efforts, sincere approach and a holistically worked out plan for providing jobs in government, semi Government, private sectors and self-employment schemes. A customized approach for handling Urban and Rural unemployment by exploiting locally available employment opportunities in Agriculture, horticulture, rotational cash crops and rural tourism etc. would ease out the situation for short term.
However, it is quite imperative to scientifically analyze the issue of Unemployment, type of unemployment, reasons for such unemployment and to arrest the underlining factors responsible for it. The issue of unemployment basically can be categorized into four types i.e. demand deficit, frictional, structural and voluntary unemployment. It infers that each type of unemployment needs to be tackled in a specific manner with right approach. In the given situation, it is felt that the issue is not being given due attention by the UT administration to rejuvenate job market to cope up with enhanced demand and arrest surging unemployment to save youths from the swell of discontentment.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
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