In the shadows of Jammu and Kashmir’s larger political and developmental narratives lies a silent crisis—contractualism, adhocism, and dailywagerism. This trifecta of precarious employment has become a malignant feature of the region’s workforce, systematically eroding the dignity of labor and crippling governance. It is high time policymakers address this issue with the urgency and vision it demands. For decades, the state has relied on temporary hiring practices to meet workforce shortages. What began as a stopgap measure has hardened into a systemic failure that affects not just those employed under these schemes but also the public services they deliver. The promise of change, especially post-2019 reforms, has done little to untangle this web of insecurity, exploitation, and administrative neglect. The roots of contractualism in Jammu and Kashmir stretch back decades, fueled by fiscal constraints and a lack of long-term planning. Over the years, temporary employment in education, healthcare, public works, and other sectors became an easy tool to bypass bureaucratic delays and reduce costs. Today, this practice is less about convenience and more about chronic mismanagement. Nearly 60,000 daily wagers and contractual employees continue to wait for regularization, many of them toiling for years without adequate pay, timely wages, or benefits. Teachers, who should inspire future generations, are forced to moonlight to make ends meet. Healthcare workers, who risked their lives during the pandemic, have no job security. These workers are not just victims of a flawed system; they are victims of indifference.
The Human Toll: Contractual employees earn meager wages, often less than the minimum needed to support a family. Delayed payments are common, adding to their financial distress.Arbitrary contract renewals hang like a sword over their heads, depriving them of stability and a sense of belonging.Most contractual workers have no access to health insurance, pensions, or other safety nets, leaving them vulnerable to crises. The broader consequences are equally grim. How can we expect quality education from teachers who are constantly anxious about their next paycheck? How can healthcare workers provide compassionate care when their own futures are uncertain? Temporary employment doesn’t just harm the worker; it dilutes the quality of governance and public service delivery, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt.
The Governance Gap: The prevalence of adhocism and dailywagerism is not merely an economic problem—it is a governance crisis. Successive administrations have opted for expedient, short-term fixes rather than addressing the systemic rot. Recommendations for regularization gather dust, and half-hearted measures are implemented only under public pressure or legal compulsion. This governance gap undermines trust in institutions, especially among the youth, who see public employment as their only viable path. With unemployment rates in J&K among the highest in India, this broken system fosters resentment and fuels brain drain. Policymakers must ask: How long can this cycle of neglect and exploitation continue before it ignites widespread unrest?
“Ending contractualism is not just an administrative challenge—it is a test of the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For policymakers, this is an opportunity to demonstrate vision and courage. The region is poised at a crossroads, and decisive action on this issue could define its trajectory for decades to come. Temporary workers have given their best to the system; it is time for the system to give back. Will the administration rise to the challenge, or will it let this silent crisis fester, dragging down the aspirations of an entire region?”
The Need for Bold Reform: The administration has an opportunity—and an obligation—to break this cycle. Token gestures and incremental changes will not suffice. What is needed is a comprehensive overhaul of employment practices, with the following priorities:
1. Immediate Regularization: All long-serving contractual and daily-wage employees must be regularized through a transparent, merit-based process. Clear timelines and criteria should replace the arbitrary delays and opacity of the current system.
2. Policy Standardization: A well-defined framework for temporary hiring must be established, limiting such appointments to specific, short-term needs. Future workers must have clear pathways to permanent employment.
3. Social Security for All: Policymakers must ensure that every worker—permanent or temporary—has access to basic benefits like health insurance, pensions, and maternity leave. This is not charity; it is their right.
4. Promote Private Sector Growth: J&K cannot sustain its economy solely on government employment. Special economic zones, incentives for startups, and industry-academia partnerships can create stable, private-sector jobs to ease the burden on the public sector. Invite Local, National and International players of Education and Health sectors, let them Establish institutions in J&K with a minimum of 50% local employees condition, this way unemployment rate can come down. Pune in Maharashtra is an Example. Make J&K next Pune or Chennai in terms of Educational Hub.
A Test of Governance: This crisis is not just about wages or contracts; it is about restoring the dignity of work and trust in governance. It is a moral imperative for the administration to show that it values its workers as much as it values its reforms. Ending contractualism is not just an administrative challenge—it is a test of the promises made to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For policymakers, this is an opportunity to demonstrate vision and courage. The region is poised at a crossroads, and decisive action on this issue could define its trajectory for decades to come. Temporary workers have given their best to the system; it is time for the system to give back. Will the administration rise to the challenge, or will it let this silent crisis fester, dragging down the aspirations of an entire region?
(The author is a teacher at Govt Degree College Khansahib, Budgam.The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
Dr. Ashraf Zainabi
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