Youth focused schemes occupy a central place in policy speeches across Kashmir. Every new government highlights skill development as a solution to unemployment, alienation, and social instability. You hear ambitious claims about transforming youth into entrepreneurs and job creators. On the ground, many of these promises remain unfulfilled.
Kashmir has a large educated youth population. According to official employment exchanges and independent studies, unemployment among educated youth remains persistently high. Degrees do not translate into jobs. Skill programs were meant to bridge this gap. In practice, they often fail to do so.
Most schemes prioritize visibility over substance. Authorities announce targets like training ten thousand youth in a year. You rarely see follow up data on employment outcomes. Enrollment numbers dominate press releases. Placement figures stay vague or missing. For many participants, training ends with a certificate and no clear pathway to income.
Course design remains a major weakness. Many training modules are generic and disconnected from market demand. You find repeated focus on basic computer courses, retail sales, or soft skills. Local industries do not absorb these trainees. Emerging sectors like renewable energy, logistics, modern agriculture, and advanced IT receive limited attention.
Industry linkage remains weak. Effective skill development requires employer involvement from the planning stage. In Kashmir, most programs are government run with minimal private sector engagement. Employers complain that trainees lack practical exposure. Youth complain that companies do not recognize government certificates. This gap undermines trust on both sides.
Quality of training also raises concerns. Many centers operate with outdated equipment. Trainers are often underpaid and hired on short term contracts. Motivation suffers. Curriculum updates happen slowly. Monitoring mechanisms remain largely paperwork based. Without strong quality control, skill training becomes a formality.
Political timing further affects credibility. Scheme launches often coincide with election cycles or high level visits. You see banners, workshops, and media coverage. Once attention shifts, implementation slows down. Youth recognize this pattern. It fuels cynicism and disengagement.
Rural youth face additional disadvantages. Most training centers cluster in cities like Srinagar and Jammu. Travel costs and accommodation act as barriers. Online training assumes stable internet access, which many rural areas lack. As a result, those who need support the most often get excluded.
Women face layered challenges. Social norms restrict mobility. Safety concerns limit participation. Few programs provide childcare support or flexible schedules. Without addressing these realities, women focused schemes remain symbolic.
Transparency remains limited. Public dashboards showing outcomes are rare. Independent audits are almost nonexistent. You cannot evaluate success without data. Lack of transparency weakens accountability and policy correction.
There are, however, examples of relative success. Programs linked to handicrafts, tourism services, and niche IT services have shown better outcomes. These initiatives worked because they aligned with local strengths and market demand. They offered longer training, mentorship, and some form of placement support. Their scale remains limited, but they offer lessons.
You need structural reform to change outcomes.
First, start with labour market analysis. Design courses based on actual hiring needs within and outside Kashmir.
Second, shift focus from training numbers to employment outcomes. Track placements, income levels, and job retention. Make this data public.
Third, deepen private sector participation. Offer incentives to firms that train and hire local youth. Apprenticeships and on job training must expand.
Fourth, invest in quality. Upgrade infrastructure. Stabilize trainer contracts. Update curriculum regularly.
Fifth, improve access for rural youth and women. Provide transport support. Create mobile training units. Ensure safe and flexible learning environments.
Finally, depoliticize youth programs. Treat them as long term development investments, not short term publicity tools.
Kashmir’s youth do not demand slogans. You demand opportunity, fairness, and measurable results. Skill development can work, but only when policy shifts from optics to outcomes.