By: MOHAMMAD AKRAM
The growth and development of a country are directly linked to its youth population. Over the years, it has been observed that countries with higher percentages of youth, such as China, have experienced rapid growth. Contemporary economists, particularly in welfare states, consider the youth population when making developmental plans for their respective countries. Since youth constitute the majority of the workforce, investing in them yields better dividends. Education, health, and skills are key areas for harnessing the potential of youth. Since independence, India has adopted a planned economy, initially through the Planning Commission of India and more recently through the NITI Aayog. In every economic sector, goals and targets are set to be achieved within specified time frames to employ the workforce. Both the central and State/UT governments allocate their resources to upgrade the skills of youth, enabling them to compete in the global market.
Recently, the government of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir launched Mission Youth to provide employability opportunities to its youth, who constitute approximately 69% of the total population of the UT (Census 2011). The Mission comprises various schemes and policies focusing on livelihood generation, skill development, education, recreational and social engagements, counselling, and rehabilitation, among others. Schemes such as Mumkin, the Spurring Entrepreneurship Initiative, Tejaswani-the Radiant, the Sahyta Programme, the Young Innovators Programme, sector-specific schemes for dental professionals, and Rise Together are examples of livelihood generation programmes. Skill Development and Endeavour to Empower are skill development programmes aimed at enhancing youth skills. Parvaz, Super 75, Super B 75, Youth Clubs, state-of-the-art Youth Recreation centres, and others are different policies aimed at educating, recreating, and rehabilitating the youth of the UT. Additionally, there are hundreds of sector-specific schemes to achieve these objectives.
Like every district in the UT, the Mission Youth schemes have been successfully implemented in the Baramulla district by the district administration. Out of the total 1008039 enumerated individuals in the district, 708538 individuals, including 334047 females, are under thirty-five years, which constitutes more than 70% of the district’s population (Census 2011). The population in this age group, which comprises the majority of the workforce, is expected to have reached 75% by now, given a steady growth rate of ten per cent. Due to the reduction in government jobs, an increased literacy rate, and a lack of opportunities in the private sector, the pressure to engage youth in gainful economic activities is mounting. Against this backdrop, the district administration is committed to creating sufficient avenues for employment generation. Recently, in addition to the Mission Youth schemes, various sector-specific initiatives such as the HADP (Holistic Agriculture Development Project), PM-Kisan, PM Vishwakarma, and the Aspirational District Plan have been unrolled with tremendous success.
With a contribution of approximately 20% to the State GDP, the district’s agricultural sector supports the livelihoods of over 75% of its population. Anticipating a growth rate of 7%, the Holistic Agriculture Development Plan—an amalgamation of 29 different schemes with an estimated project cost of Rupees 5000 crores—was launched in 2023 and will be executed over the next five years. The scheme aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Creation of sufficient employment and livelihood opportunities for youth.
- Attaining self-sufficiency in the agriculture sector, in line with the Aatmanirbar Bharat Mission.
- Skill enhancement to meet modern global demands (Daksha Kisan).
- In alignment with the UN SDG-2, the scheme also seeks to promote sustainable agricultural practices.
Under this scheme, beneficiaries are provided with support for the establishment of high-tech greenhouses for the protected cultivation of high-yielding varieties of trees and crops, controlled crop rooms for mushroom cultivation, seed processing units, lavender farms, sheep farms, dairy farms, and poultry farms, among others, at a minimum subsidised cost of 90%. Of an impressive 35000 applications received last year, 6500 successful applicants have established units that generate livelihood and employment opportunities for more than 7000 families in the district. The scheme is on track to meet its anticipated targets. Furthermore, to raise awareness and assist farmers, the district administration has successfully established 180 KKGs (Kisan Khidmat Ghar) centres across various Panchayats in the district. Opportunities are also available for skill enhancement and training in the latest agricultural practices for farmers. Steady progress is expected to gradually alleviate the growing unemployment issue in the district.
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