Sofi Rafiq
The Reality and Concerns: Jammu and Kashmir Economy is engulfed with many problems. Unemployment and lack of self sufficiency being the two gigantic problems need to be addressed at an earliest. During the Lock down followed by the emergence of Covid-19 everybody understood the significance of being self-sufficient as a result “Make local vocal” and “Atmanirbar” are the two coined slogans highlighting the importance and directing towards the pursuit for striving and struggling for self sufficiency. Due to Covid-19 Localisation seems to have over throw the concept and vision of globalisation. In this background the people of Jammu and Kashmir are living in totally different and peculiar conditions which further enhance the importance of being self sufficient. Our intellectual class is always concerned and debates over it but being concerned without any action is not going to make difference. It needs proper application of mind for actions to be taken for a better tomorrow but unfortunately we at all levels lack seriousness and willingness to take even small steps to move in this direction. Thus lack of proper planning and efforts to achieve the goal of self sufficiency give rise to other connected economic problems and unemployment being one among them. Unemployment is an economic curse and a much debated issue among intellectual circles across the globe. It is a matter of concern for policy makers, administration, and public especially for highly qualified youth of the Jammu and Kashmir because we have huge masses of unemployed youth in Jammu and Kashmir. The number of educated unemployed youth is running in lakhs, as per the Economic Survey Report of 2016, the employment rate in Jammu and Kashmir is higher than the average national employment rate. Nearly a quarter of its population in the age group of 18 to 29 years is unemployed, which is far more than the national rate of 13.2 percent. In one of its reports the Deputy Director, Employment states that “as of December 2019, at least 2.5 lakh unemployed youth — including 1.5 lakh postgraduates and PhD scholars — have registered with the department”. This is the number which is on the live registrar of the department and the number of unregistered youth is much higher than this figure. As per fifth Annual Employment and Un-employment Survey 2015-16 conducted by Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India the unemployment rates based on Usual Principal Status and UPSS approach are higher in case of J&K in comparison with national figures. The unemployment rate (UPS and UPSS) is 7.2 and 6.6 for J&K and 5 and 3.7 in respect of India for the year 2015-16. These figures are enough to understand the severity of the level of unemployment here. Which need a serious thinking and action at all levels be it Govt or Public.
Our Response: How we responded to unemployment problem, it is worth mentioning here that our interpretation to employment were not well. Majority of us are of the opinion that employment means getting a government job by hook or crook and becoming a parasite on society, and all those who fail to get a government job are unemployed but in reality “Employment” is engaging in some productive activity to earn livelihood with respect instead of wasting time and energy to wait for a government job.
Change in outlook and a way forward: We are living in a Muslim majority area and being Muslims we must be aware that Islam strives to eradicate social ills that result from unemployment, idleness, and poverty by encouraging work and disliking to remain idle and become lazy. The religion of Islam orders its followers to be the part and parcel of a working and productive society (Al –Mai’dah Verse 2). Remaining idle and wasting time for the want of government job is not less than suicide instead Islam instructs youth to rise up to the challenge of shouldering responsibility at an early age and also for an old not to give up their efforts in benefiting the society with their experience and work skills. The Message of the Holy Qur’an is very much crystal clear on this account Qur’an directs to the humanity that it should contribute positively to the earth that is it should work to make use of what is created for its benefit. To support my argument the following two verses of the Holy Qur’an convey the same message: Then when the Salat (Jumu’ah Prayer) is finished, you may disperse through the land, and seek the bounty of Allah (by Working) and remember Allah much that you may be successful (Al-Jumu’ah Verse 10). And surely, we gave you the authority on the earth and appointed for you therein the livelihoods/ provisions for your life. Little thanks do you give (Al Ar’af verse 10). Islam gives special importance to work and struggle for earning livelihood to that extent that it is considered an act of worship. Working for survival of oneself and one’s family is worship not less than other worships of Islam. The prophet of Islam Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to pray seeking Allah’s refugee from laziness and idleness. The Muslim scholar Imam Al-Ghazali mentioned in his book Ihyaa’ `Ulum Ad-Deen (Revival of the Religious Sciences) that Jesus (peace and blessings be upon him) once saw a man who had completely devoted himself to worship. When he asked him how he got his daily bread, the man replied that his brother, who worked, provided him with food. Jesus then told him, “That brother of yours is more religious than you are” (The Book of Provision, Chapter 1). From the above teaching of Islam the point to convey is that we have to change our outlook and think beyond government jobs for our livelihood because it is impossible that government can give jobs to everybody further The Unemployment rate in the j& k which is already very high as compared to National Level will get worsen due to current lockdown. The Job opportunities in the govt sector are also going to be shrinked due to new domicile laws. In this precarious situation we need to think rational, be practical and come to basics to find a way forward.
Way Forward: Majority among you agree with me when I state that, sometimes we willingly want to be unemployed instead engaging in some productive work. To prove my point “We have thousands of such examples around us where labour/ labourers are hired by those who are themselves unemployed/ idle but still want to go with the tide. A question always strikes my mind that is what is the fun of hiring a labour by the person who is himself idle? I deeply ponder on it and for me the answer is either Love to remain idle, laziness and hate for work have become the virtue of our youth. Avoiding work due to Inferiority complex or Status issue can also be the reason. If we at public level are really sincere to address these two big interrelated economic problems I offer a simple suggestion that is we have to come out of our comfort zones and change in mental set up. I am sure you agree with me that majority of our youth especially in rural areas who are pass outs from colleges or Universities and own some land, love to remain idle instead of working in their agricultural land. Being degree holders they feel it against their dignity and status to Work in filed/ orchards exceptions are always there. This mentality needs to be changed we must remember that from Islamic perspective “Work is Worship” provided it is done within the ambit of teachings of Quran and Sunnah, and we must not shy in doing work on our agricultural fields. Educated youth having degree on their back need to take a leading role and show interest in this regard and be sure it will not decrease our status/ dignity instead it will increase our respect in society and it will be the first step towards the goals of self sufficiency and employment generation. We need to take activities related to agriculture and allied sectors as career opportunities, as agriculture is still the backbone of our economy though it is showing dismal picture with regard to it contribution towards GSDP, but still it has a vital role to play in shaping the economic destiny of the Jammu and Kashmir. We have the examples of underemployment attached with agricultural but there are the cases of voluntary unemployment as well. We need to understand the facts and make our mind to work hard, develop entrepreneurial skills and qualities, and attain skill based education and to grab every possible opportunity which will make us self sufficient and generate employment. We need to stick to basics that is when all sectors of economy suffered due to current lock down but agriculture and allied sectors to some extent generated some sort of employment. The educated youth especially in rural areas must take agriculture and allied activities as a profession and a career opportunity and infuse new life into it as it ample career opportunities to offer in fisheries, poultry, live stock, horticulture, Floriculture, etc these are prospective the economic boosters so time is ripe to grab the opportunity and accept the responsibility to contribute towards Atmanirbar Jammu and Kashmir especially in food crops and meat.
( The author is a freelancer. Views are his own, [email protected])
