By: BILAL AHMAD KUMAR
The government’s extensive investment in awareness programmes addressing issues like drug addiction, unemployment, crime, depression, and health within schools and other departments has yielded negligible results. Despite years of these programmes, the problems persist. In fact, issues such as depression, crime, and unemployment are escalating, particularly among the youth. This trend poses a significant risk, potentially transforming the younger generation into a societal liability.
A clear link exists between crime and unemployment. When educated youth are unable to secure employment, despite their educational investments, they may feel burdened and turn to criminal activities. Daily wage earners, need-based workers, contractual employees, and vocational teachers, all face financial insecurity and depression due to low wages and a lack of job security.
For example, highly qualified vocational teachers appointed in 2016 continue to earn the same salary in 2025. They have endured depression for over a decade due to long commutes, insufficient pay, and job insecurity. Despite the government’s substantial spending on awareness programmes, these issues remain unresolved.
The government must assume responsibility and proactively address these challenges before they become unmanageable. The current trajectory threatens to exacerbate these problems, potentially leading to a crisis. The Samagra Shiksha Department in Kashmir has committed a significant injustice against vocational teachers. Despite spending considerable funds on awareness programmes in schools, the department has consistently disregarded the vocational teachers’ demands, including salary increments, transfers, and job security. It is ironic that while the department aims to combat social issues, it has allowed over 2200 vocational teachers to suffer from depression. The government’s priorities are unclear.
Furthermore, the already meager salaries of vocational teachers have been withheld for the past 4-5 months. I implore the government to address the grievances of these unemployed, educated youth promptly to prevent them from turning to negative paths.
Specifically, I appeal to the government and the Samagra Shiksha department to alleviate the suffering of vocational teachers by ensuring job security, implementing salary increments, and establishing fair transfer policies, thereby enabling them to live with dignity and contentment.
