The rising joblessness triggered by the covid-19 pandemic has one way or the other reduced the pace of economic activities and consequently the employment generation as a result the stress on youth is more unprecedented in Jammu & Kashmir than any other part of the country. Since new surge in covid-19 pandemic is once again reducing the frequency of economic activities in Jammu & Kashmir and consequently the frequency of unprecedented rise in the unemployment goes on rising with every passing day. Though change in situation demands a change in strategies but presently there is no strategy is to increase the frequency of economic activities amid surge in the intensity of the current wave of covid-19 pandemic in Jammu & Kashmir. While restrictions are in place at public places for containing the spread of the covid -19 pandemic the scope for increasing the frequency of economic activities cannot be explored without government intervention. While Lt Governor weekly reviews the covid containment measures with Deputy Commissioners, a similar review on increasing the pace of economic activities would also create new space of employment for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir rendered jobless by stress on both private business operations and as well as execution of development works in both Kashmir valley and as well as Jammu division like several other parts of the country. Since people prefer to work in the areas where their families are settled in view of the increasing intensity of covid-19 pandemic, the engagement of youth in the developmental works undertaken in their parent districts could also reduce the intensity of joblessness as such a decision won’t not only fast pace the execution of development works but would also throw up new opportunities of livelihoods for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir.
Keeping in view the fact that opening up spaces in the new economic activities of the government for youth could also throw up new opportunities of livelihoods at the grass roots, the weekly review meetings on transparency in the engagement of youth in developmental works at grass roots could reduce the scope of public complaints and consequently increase the scope for more livelihood opportunities for local youth in Jammu & Kashmir.
Unfortunately complaints about discrimination in engagement of local youth in the development works executed through community blocks on the recommendations of panchayat representatives are not noted seriously and probed well through institutional procedures. Though no one would believe that such complaints are factually correct without a proper investigation by the concerned department but it is also an irrefutable fact that authorities leaving complaints uninvestigated deserve an explanation for rejecting the complaints without looking into them seriously. Keeping in view the fact that opening up spaces in the new economic activities of the government for youth could also throw up new opportunities of livelihoods at the grass roots, the weekly review meetings on transparency in the engagement of youth in developmental works at grass roots could reduce the scope of public complaints and consequently increase the scope for more livelihood opportunities for local youth in Jammu & Kashmir.
