In the post pandemic scenario the unprecedented rise in joblessness does not head to any dead end in Jammu & Kashmir even after witnessing biggest ever tourist footfall this year. The slowdown in the pace of economic activities triggered by the high intensity periods of pandemic has consequently brought huge no of unemployed youth under stress. Though heavy influx of tourists in Jammu & Kashmir witnessed this year has increased the frequency of economic activities but business and trading outlets are yet to recover from the losses they suffered during two years of Pandemic from March 2020 to November 2021. For all practical purposes change in situation demands a change in strategies but presently there is no strategy to increase the frequency of employment opportunities in Jammu & Kashmir. While the work on development projects has been fast paced by incumbent Government the scope for increasing the frequency of economic activities too can be best explored only through government intervention. While Lt Governor has launched phase IV of the back to village program under Jan Abhiyan Scheme after a lapse of about three years due to two consecutive covid lockdowns imposed twice from March 2020 to November 2021 , a similar initiative for involvement of unemployed youth through involvement of local self help groups (SHGs) in the implementation of the Government’s developmental projects could open up new job opportunities for the jobless youth of Jammu & Kashmir .
Keeping in view the fact that opening up spaces in the new developmental activities of the government for the unemployed youth could throw up new opportunities of livelihoods at the grass roots, the weekly review meetings on engagement of youth in developmental works at grass roots could increase the pace of economic activities and consequently increase the scope for more livelihood opportunities for local youth in Jammu & Kashmir.
Since people prefer to work in the areas where their families are settled the engagement of youth in the developmental works undertaken in their parent districts could also reduce the intensity of joblessness as such a decision will not only fast pace the execution of development works but would also throw up new opportunities of livelihoods for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir. The time is right and atmosphere is conducive for the engagement of local youth in the developmental works implemented through panchayat bodies as the phase IV of the back to village program is going on in full swing across Jammu & Kashmir. Keeping in view the fact that opening up spaces in the new developmental activities of the government for the unemployed youth could throw up new opportunities of livelihoods at the grass roots, the weekly review meetings on engagement of youth in developmental works at grass roots could increase the pace of economic activities and consequently increase the scope for more livelihood opportunities for local youth in Jammu & Kashmir.
