SHAPING THE FUTURE
Kashmir valley has forever been a place of interest for its marvellous beauty, the regalia of natural resources and rich culture. With pride in the Kashmiriyat, people have together flourished in the local livelihoods of farming, tourism and handicrafts. But the impact of conflict on school education is often overlooked. While the rest of the nation adapted to the ongoing global developments, Jammu and Kashmir remained stuck in past due to conditions imposed by the state laws. This alienated the local people, who found it difficult to come out and grab multiple education and employment opportunities that have been open for them as for any other citizen. Even though there are govt institutions like NIT in the state, students remained deprived of quality education and training. This had created a vacuum in the right education guidance, which is restricting most of the students of J&K from competing effectively on a pan-India level.
The abrogation of Article 370 and the bifurcation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 provoked intense diplomatic response from the international community. For the most part, India received widespread support for its decision. However, at the same time, there have been criticisms of the restrictions imposed in the region on communication and civil liberties. With the abrogation of article 370, the limitations on land ownership are dissolved, which are enabling higher private investments and setting up of industries in the state. This is invariably giving rise to technical training institutions. Quality education offerings by numerous organizations will be accessible to the youth right in the state. This is bridging the wide gap prevailing between curriculum and industry and infusing confidence into the students.
The govt on 13 Apr 2021 sent 12 youth from Poonch dist to Jammu for skill development training under the Himayat program, which aims at improving their employability. Himayat is a placement linked skill training programme under implementation since 2011 for unemployed youth of Jammu and Kashmir. It is being implemented by the Himayat Mission Management Unit, J&K State Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKSRLM). It aims at increasing the employability of youth by improving their skill-sets and providing support for placement and self employment. The Youth are provided free skill training for a duration of 03 to 12 months, in a range of skills for which there is a good market demand. At the end of the training, the youth are assured of a job and there is post-placement tracking for a year to see how they are faring. Indeed, the abrogation of Article 370 is a promising step in the direction of a new dawn that will see the renaissance of J&K and its economy as a pride of India.
