YOUTH EMPOWERMENT IN KASHMIR AS BUDDING ENTREPRENURES
Youth entrepreneurship is high on the political agenda as a means to boost competitiveness and employment. Young entrepreneurs have the potential to build a new economic dynamic generating growth and jobs. India’s 2020 growth strategy gives particular attention to entrepreneurship promotion and includes an entrepreneurship action plan that focuses attention on creating a more enabling environment to support Kashmiri youth entrepreneurship in J&K.
With many of Make in India companies signing up to the Small Business Act, the opportunity to build the next generation of young entrepreneurs has never been better. This policy brief outlines a number of key considerations for the government, private sector and civic interest groups to move forward with more strategic promotion of Kashmiri youth entrepreneurship program.
Growing youth unemployment threatens economic and political stability. States with high youth demographic profiles are even more at risk. Further, negative growth means decreasing work opportunities and the need for alternative means of job creation. Youth entrepreneurship can be part of the solution. Education and training are critical to develop the entrepreneurial mind set and specific skills for business. Start-up and development are the important facets of entrepreneurship but education and training cannot be disconnected from the wider entrepreneurship support system. A coordinated response is necessary to ensure the energy and drive of young people which are best harnessed to meet the needs of a 21st century economy.
Cultural perceptions and acceptance of both entrepreneurship risk and entrepreneurship failure are considerable obstacles to building an entrepreneurial society. Policymakers have a role to play here. Given that policy frames public option, policymakers should consider how the profiling of successful young entrepreneurs in the country as role models, and use of social media, could contribute to a more favourable entrepreneurship culture. Recognising failure as a learning opportunity must be part of the policy message.
In addition, a rethink of the teaching and learning processes in school is necessary to equip young minds with the skills to manage failure and success which are particular challenges for today’s entrepreneur.
Evidence shows that the rate of students who start up their own company in India increases three-fold after participation in an entrepreneurship programme at school. The entrepreneurship action plan builds on this data by promoting an ‘entrepreneurship experience’ as part of compulsory schooling for all young people. Policymakers from other states should consider integrating the ‘entrepreneurship experience’ into school curriculum. Entrepreneurship is better developed in vocational education and training with a specific focus on building business skills. However, more attention needs to be given to entrepreneurship as a ‘key competence’ to build the entrepreneurial mindset of the next generation. The entrepreneurial mindset comprises a set of cognitive and behavioural traits e.g. opportunity seeking, risk management and creative problem solving. The crux of the issue is that in developing the entrepreneurial mindset of young Kashmiri people, we not only prepare them for business start-ups. Those who do not take the start-up route make for more entrepreneurial employees boosting quality and productivity in the workplace. Further, a policy framework to support lifelong entrepreneurial learning is needed to create change throughout the system. Engagement of the non-formal and private sector in entrepreneurship promotion in schools, colleges and universities can enhance the curriculum and learning process. Teacher training will be critical to the wider entrepreneurial learning drive. In brief, teachers and schools of the state need to be an integral part of a unifying Indian entrepreneurship agenda.
Interfacing digital skills and entrepreneurship presents a critical opportunity to the youth of Kashmir. Ways should be sought to capitalise upon the digital readiness of today’s young minds to encourage more technological start-ups. Young people need the training, confidence and support to enable them to exploit new technologies. Building digital skills through education and dedicating resources to promote Youth entrepreneurship must be the frontline policy of the government. Youth must be made to understand that entrepreneurship is to make an informed career choice. The engagement of businesses with career guidance services that recognise and promote entrepreneurship as a viable labour market opportunity would encourage young people to consider self- employment and business development as their career path. Ensuring young people are prepared to take over and develop family businesses must be a part. Career guidance services in cooperation with small business support organisations, could therefore have a critical role in supporting young people and family businesses with business succession. Hence, as part of this International Youth Day entrepreneurship amongst the youth of Kashmir can be the focal point and efficient ways to put into practice can be worked upon.
