The picturesque Pahalgam Valley in Jammu and Kashmir is a popular tourist destination, attracting visitors from across the globe. But behind the scenic beauty, a harsh reality unfolds for many educated youth, who struggle to find suitable employment opportunities. This stark truth is exemplified by Maqsood Ahmad Ganai, a 38-year-old PhD in Botany, who has been forced to set up a small juice stall by the roadside to make ends meet.
Ganai’s story paints a poignant picture of the unemployment crisis gripping the region. After nearly a decade of teaching experience on a temporary basis at a government-run college, he has been unable to secure a permanent position for the past five years. Driven to desperation, Ganai turned to selling freshly squeezed apple juice to passing tourists, hoping to support his family.
His daily earnings fluctuate between ₹100 and ₹500, with some days yielding no customers at all. This meager income is the only support for Ganai, his mother, wife, and a six-year-old son. He even applied for work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), but was deemed ‘overqualified’ for the available unskilled manual labor jobs. This frustrating experience pushed him towards the juice stall, as he sought a way to remain busy and maintain his sanity.
Ganai’s situation is unfortunately not unique. Many educated youth in Jammu and Kashmir face similar economic struggles, with limited options for sustainable employment. The region’s unemployment rate stands at a staggering 18.3%, double the national average of 9%. This stark reality underscores the failure of the economic promises made following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 by the Modi government, which had promised economic prosperity for the region.
The data speaks for itself. In 2018-19, the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir was 5.1%. Now, it has skyrocketed to 18.3%, leaving around a million residents, like Ganai, jobless. The story of Ganai, hiding behind trees out of shame when he encounters his former students, is a poignant reminder of the human cost of this economic crisis.
While Ganai’s wife, Rubia, also holds a Master’s degree in Sociology, she too is struggling to find employment. Their story is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of unemployment on individuals, families, and communities. The crisis demands immediate attention and effective solutions to address the issue, provide opportunities, and empower the region’s talented youth.
