Every morning at 7am, Maqsood Ahmad Ganai starts his day by leaving home to set up a small juice stall near his village, Hugam, in the southern Anantnag district of Indian-administered Kashmir. His goal is to attract tourists on their way to the picturesque Pahalgam Valley, just 29km (18 miles) from Hugam. Ganai, a 38-year-old with a doctorate in botany, has nearly a decade of teaching experience at a government-run college on a temporary basis. Despite his qualifications, he has struggled to secure a teaching position in the last five years.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government revoked the limited autonomy of Indian-administered Kashmir in 2019, it was believed that the move would bring economic prosperity to the region. However, the reality on the ground tells a different story. The current unemployment rate in the region is 18.3 percent, twice the national average and the worst in decades. This has left many educated youth like Ganai struggling to make ends meet.
Unable to find a stable job, Ganai now sells freshly made apple juice near his in-laws’ apple orchard to support his family. Despite his efforts to seek work through government programmes like MGNREGA, he has faced challenges due to his qualifications. Many educated youth in Kashmir are facing similar economic struggles, with limited options for sustainable employment.
The situation is further complicated by the political unrest and violence in the region, which has persisted for more than three decades. The revocation of Article 370 in 2019 led to fears of a demographic change and limited employment opportunities for Kashmiris. The region’s mainstay of tourism has also been severely disrupted, impacting sectors like tourism, handicrafts, and agriculture.
With the recent elections in Kashmir, there is hope that economic aspirations will be addressed. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has pledged to prioritize addressing the unemployment crisis. However, there is still a disconnect between policy promises and real-world outcomes, with limited results seen from government initiatives aimed at attracting investment and generating employment.
Despite the challenges, Kashmiris like Ganai remain hopeful for a better future. They continue to face economic insecurity and limited opportunities for growth in their homeland. The road ahead may be tough, but there is a sense of resilience and determination among the people of Kashmir to overcome these obstacles and build a brighter tomorrow.