By: Er Aausyf Ibn Farooq
The circumstances of electrical engineers in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) seem to be in complete disarray as there is no one to take care of the issues that are halting many a great futures. Despite having several institutions that offer electrical engineering courses like GCET Kathua, GCET Jammu, Safapora, MIET Jammu, YCET Jammu, IUST Awantipora, SSM Parihasporasgr and Kashmir University etc, the situation of electrical engineers in J&K remains bleak.
The field of electrical engineering is considered a highly attractive career option as it plays a crucial role in almost every aspect of our daily lives. Despite the high demand for electrical engineers in every field in J&K, there seems to be a severe lack of opportunities for them. Every year, hundreds of electrical engineering graduates pass out from different colleges in J&K and pursue electrical engineering outside the Union Territory.
The only organisation that has provided jobs to electrical engineers in J&K is the Power Development Department (PDD), which recruited engineers in 2015 and since then, there has been no recruitment till date. In 2019, 30 posts of J.E and 68 posts of A.E were advertised, but they were later withdrawn. This has created a sense of uncertainty among the electrical engineering graduates in J&K.
It is essential to understand that the lack of job opportunities for electrical engineers here is not just limited to the Power Development Department as many institutes offer electrical engineering courses, including NIT, Jammu College, and others.
The situation is worsened by the continuous retirement of electrical engineers in J&K, without adequate replacement. The lack of job opportunities and recruitment in the field of electrical engineering has made it difficult for electrical engineering graduates to find employment triggering a sense of frustration and disappointment among the youth who have worked hard to earn their degrees.
The authorities must address the situation and take necessary steps to provide job opportunities to electrical engineering graduates. Both state government, as well as the private sector, should come forward to provide employment opportunities in the field of electrical engineering. The authorities should also explore the possibilities of creating new job opportunities by encouraging new industries and start-ups in the region.
