J&K State Youth Policy

8/11/2019 J&K State Youth Policy

1/29

Confidential Report

STATE YOUTH POLICY

Concept Note

YOUTH PARLIAMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Young men, my hope is in you. Will you respond to the call of your nation? Each one of you has

a glorious future if you dare believe me. Have a tremendous faith in yourselves, like the faith I

had when I was a child, and which I am working out now. Have that faith, each one of you, in

yourselfthat eternal power is lodged in every souland you will revive the whole of the

country(Swami Vivekananda)


2/29

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Executive Summary

2. Foreword

3. Preface

4. Introduction

5. Rationale for Youth Policy

6. Policy context

7. Policy Goals

8. Policy vision

9. Objectives

10. Youth policies and accountabilities

11. Defining youth development

12. Target youth groups

13. Rights and Responsibilities

14. Policy imperatives and Proposed interventions

15.

Policy implementation and Coordination Mechanism

16. Monitoring and Evaluation/suggestions

17. Conclusion


3/29

Rachel Jackson says,

Our young adults are not failing the system; the system

is failing our young adults. Ironically, the very young

adults who are being treated the worst are the young

people who are going to lead us out of this nightmare.

YOUTH PARLIAMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

About YOUTH PARLIAMENT OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR

The Youth Parliament of Jammu and Kashmir (YPJK) is an organisation of young, dynamic and

innovative young people promoting peace in the trouble-torn region of Jammu and Kashmir.

Their aim is to include the voices of young people in decision-making and governance and to

help young people support society in making Kashmir a better place to live. The organisation

provides opportunities and a platform to enterprising and dedicated young people working for

the welfare of society and the state


4/29

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Jammu and Kashmir is a state that has its own distinct and peculiar cultural ethos. The state

has a predominant place as it shares the international boundary with Pakistan and China. It is

enriched with the boundless beauty of snow-clad mountains, large natural lakes, forests, rivers

and springs. It comprises three main natural regions, namely, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh.However, for administrative purposes, the state is divided into two main divisions, Kashmir with

twelve districts (including two districts of Ladakh region) and Jammu with ten districts.

The trend in the development of Jammu and Kashmir is not encouraging. It has been lagging

behind most of the states in regard to the growth of Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) at

current prices. The average annual growth of Net State Domestic Product at current prices

during 1980-81 to 1999-2000 was 12.45 per cent for Jammu and Kashmir against 15.01 per cent,

14.28 per cent, 13.83 per cent and 14.3 per cent for Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and

Kerala respectively. In the case of the growth of Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at

current prices also, the state of Jammu and Kashmir was lagging behind most Indian States. The

average annual growth of Per Capita Net State Domestic Product at current prices during 1980-

2000 was estimated as 9.63 per cent for Jammu and Kashmir against 12.9 per cent, 11.63 per

cent, 11.63 per cent, and 12.86 per cent for Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Kerala

respectively.

The slow growth of the state of Jammu and Kashmir can be attributed to various factors. The

climate of armed militancy in Kashmir during the past decade has been a major factor. Low

productivity in agriculture and allied sectors has impeded employment and income generation.

Poor industrial infrastructure along with the poor investment climate has left the industrial

sector in its infant stage. There has not been a suitable strategy for the potential sectors to

achieve higher economic growth. Lack of good governance and sound fiscal management has

also been responsible for the poor economic growth of the state.

FORWARD

Over the years the unemployment problem particularly for educated youth has acquired

alarming dimensions .with the regular annual incremental increase thousands of unemployed

educated youth enter into the growing list of the unemployed, largely due to the economicdistress and mismatch , the problem is going to be one of the biggest challenge.

The task of overcoming the unemployment problem could only be resolved to a considerable

context by providing jobs to the unemployed educated youth outside the govt department and

by promoting the self employment ventures and thus ameliorating that lot of job seekers.

Like all other states, the state of j&k has a high rate of unemployment particularly among the

educated youth . Almost 6 lakh people are unemployed in the state. The problem has been

further accentuated due to the fact that avenues for private employment are restricted to

almost nil. This cause a strain on the resources of the state and hampers developmental

activities . with a view to generate a lasting solution and overcoming the problem of educated


5/29

unemployment youth various schemes to provide fruitful self employment oppurtunities ,

especially to the educated unemployed youth, were devised and launched by both the

governments at the centre and the state.

PREFACE

The economy of Jammu and Kashmir State has suffered badly from disturbed conditions

prevailing in the State for almost more than two decades. It would, therefore, be necessary to

put the economy back on track and accelerate the pace of growth of economy and make-up for

the losses suffered. The Jammu and Kashmir state with its varied and diversified geographic,

agro-climatic and topographic features poses very peculiar and unique problems of development

and administration. Closed corner location, remoteness and isolation from major markets,

scattered population, and lack of infrastructure and dislocation of normal civic life during the

two decadesall these factors and characteristics define special developmental challenges.

Jammu and Kashmir is an important tourist destination and has been a place of attraction for

tourists since centuries. The lush green forests, sweet springs, perennial rivers, picturesque

alpine scenery and pleasant climate of Kashmir vally, has remained an internationally acclaimed

tourist destination, whereas Jammu region the land of temples is attracting a large number of

pilgrim tourists and the important destination has been Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. Ladakh

region, the moon land has been a much sought-after destination, especially for the foreign

tourists and is famous for adventure tourism. The tourism tag has placed always the state of

Jammu and Kashmir in the limelight at national level as well as the international level.

Introduction

Youth Policy is a comprehensive document which defines the vision of Government of Jammu

and Kashmir for the Youth of the state. It seeks to provide essential planning tools guiding the

state on its approach to youth development. It forms part of the global trend where

governments are formulating youth policies that respond to the changing conditions of young

people in the contemporary times.

This policy document will first place the current debates concerning the youth, their needs and

demands and the available options and then provide a roadmap for a successful inclusion of

young people in the larger family of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Locating youth at the

centre, the policy seeks to promote the development in the state, protect democracy, support

economic development, moral and spiritual regeneration, wealth creation and distribution, and

to provide strategic leadership in the fight to eradicate poverty, unemployment,

underdevelopment and corruption.

Youth Policy document will ensure an inclusive, gender neutral and a holistic approach to the

development of society. Also the policy will ensure that all young people have access to

opportunities that enable them to grow, develop and prosper as fully engaged, responsive and

productive citizens.


6/29

The policy will provide for non-state actors, non-government organisations, to engage in youth

mobilisation, resource development and build avenues for youth to contribute for the socio-

economic development.

RATIONALE FOR YOUTH POLICY

The significant but most vulnerable section of the society is conspicuously at the risk of

victimization of various kinds and it is also more likely that the socio-psychological consequences

of their victimization have lead to the psycho-social pathology that still haunts the region. Since

Kashmir valley is confronted with the conflict atmosphere and political chaos for two and a half

decades now, youths have turned more volatile and are vulnerable to a plethora of anxieties like

joblessness, mental depression, dependence, criminal tendencies, etc,. On one hand, they are

more worried about future, politically conscious and desire change in the overall system but on

the other hand, their identity and personality crisis amidst the acute challenges of survival have

turned them into the sheer despondent and alienated beings. This conceptual summary also

pays a special focus upon the employment and social welfare/community welfare programmes

and policies currently in place for the youth development and delves upon the need for youth

engagement, empowerment, need for more provisions of social security and the timely

interventions to prevent violence and societal disorder. There is a dire need for an effective,

egalitarian, holistic and sustainable youth policy for their practical uplift and general welfare as

the current policies in place for youth have not bore the expected fruit. The paper is mainly

based on secondary sources, like books, journals, newspaper articles, e-sources, etc,. Further,

the inputs have also been gained through observation and informal conversations with youths,

to know their aspirations, anxieties and frustrations.

POLICY CONTEXT

In J&K, people aged from 15 to 30 account for a staggering 40 per cent of the total population,

compared to approximately 30 per cent normatively. Even in a limited electoral sense, the age

group between 20 and 30 years, account for 57 per cent of the population eligible to vote. Thus,

notwithstanding anything, the demographics make youth the most important segment in the

political economy of J&K. By virtue of sheer numbers, the youth of the state should and can

decide the future of the nation. If Kashmir has to prosper, the youth have to be politically

empowered, socially responsible, ethically aware and economically independent. To do this, it is

imperative to have a youth policy to educate, employ, engage and empower them. The problem,

as it stands today, is that if a youth is educated, then he/she is not employed; if a youth is

employed, he/she is not socially engaged; if he/she is socially engaged, then he/she is not

politically empowered. So a youth policy is not only about jobs but about careers which will not

just feed a family but also build the nation. This is the context for discussing the aspirations and

anxieties. It is not that our aspirations have been wrong or that our anxieties are misplaced. That

is not so. The only issue is and that is the real dilemma -- that in our case, in the case of

Kashmiris, our aspirations are the cause of our anxieties. This is so because our individual

aspirations are not in line with our collective societal aspirations. Or perhaps it is the other way


7/29

round. There is disconnect between what we aspire for ourselves as individuals and what we

aspire for ourselves as a nation.

A normal life is exemplified by roti, kapda, aur makaan or bijli, sadak, pani. These are of

course, everyones entitlements; but in the kind of a socio-economic system and the political

context within which we are made to operate, even these have become aspirations for thepeople of Kashmir. A job does not have to be naukri funded by the Government; a business

does not have to be an enterprise which is profitable because of a subsidy; a venture does not

have to be successful on the back of tax and electricity concessions. Why we are not able to do it

today is because we have lost confidence in our capabilities; in our creativity, in our own

comprehension to run our own affairs. We now talk about ourselves in a way that portrays us,

the Kashmiris, only as victims. This defensive attitude has made us incapable of thinking

positively and acting honestly. Something good can come out of this paroxysm of grief and

tragedy only if we, the people of Kashmir, reconsider what's really relevant, and what is less so,

in our life. Only if this is done can we as a nation, emerge from the deep political and socio-economic crisis that pervades us. We need to think of ourselves not as victims, but as normal

human beings. We have and have had lives; unhappy and tortuous as these may be. We have a

history; tormented as it may be. We have faces and names; sad as these may be. To be sure, we

as people are more than the Article 370 or the United Nations' resolutions and maps of line of

control that have come to signify the Kashmir. We should go beyond the argumentative

narration that struggles to defend Kashmir on the basis of historical records, howsoever effective

it may be. We have made ourselves into a story. We are not a story. Or even a series of endless

stories. Worst is that at some stage, this story of ours has got fictionalized. The result is that we

are now living in fiction. To alter this and live in reality has to be the real and only aspiration of

our youth.The way it is today, secessionist or the separatists movement in J&K is really a political

movement for restoration of historical claims or promises; it is not a broad based Kashmiri

nationalist movement. To be of use and relevance in the current times, it has to reinvent itself

into a nationalist movement. For that it has to hear the yearning of the youth. Its language has to

be contemporary. Its idiom cannot be isolationist; its methods cant be medieval and it strategy

cant be archaic. While this movement may have had to draw from historical wrongs to start

with, it has to evolve if it has to engage; not just the youth but the entire civil society. This can be

done by working to heighten the consciousness about ethnicity and ethno-nationalism. Let us be

clear. I am not a Kashmiri by virtue of Article 370. Article 370 doesnt make me a Kashmiri. At

best it offers legislative safeguards for my being a Kashmiri. I was a Kashmiri much before Article370 came into being and I will continue to be a Kashmiri long after it is repealed. Has even a

small fraction of the time and energy, that has been spent on defending Article 370, been spend

on reigniting Kashmiri nationalism? In the last 25 years of resistance, can we list out just three

mass based initiatives that have been taken to further the nationalist spirit of Kashmir? To

reinvigorate the pride in the people about ourselves and our nation? In other words, initiatives

that have furthered the ideology of ethnicity; that have furthered ethno-nationalism; that have

furthered the base of political nationalism; be it economic, cultural or social. Our biggest concern

today is that even as we are seeking a nation of our own, we are, every single day, losing some

bit of our social and culture on which our political nationhood is built. Some of it by design of

the Indian state, some of it by default in the process of modernization; and lots of it because of


8/29

the apathy of my own people. Because of the apathy and cynicism of the youth. This has to

change. What has the entire spectrum of separatist or autonomist leadership done to prevent

this, let alone proactively engender it? Very little, if anything at all. As such, the aspiration of our

youth ought to be to further a positivist notion of nationalism.The loss of our own Islamic

heritage that has been assiduously created and blended with tradition is a big blow to thisnationalism.

In the larger context of identity formation, these changes seek to homogenize Kashmir at the

expense of losing our thousand years of cultural identities. This is precisely how the process of

denationalization has started in many of the conflict ridden muslim societies. If we genuinely

aspire for political autonomy, as I believe we do, it is imperative to recognize that it can be

sustained on socio-cultural specificity. This is not to negate the resistance movement but to

point out the need for a change of track in terms of moving away from a rejectionist strategy.

It is long overdue that desired forms of sub-nationalism be described, developed, and disclosed,

prior to be delivered. This reality is in complete consonance with the first reality; while peoplewill still fight for protecting the ethno-nationalism sovereignty, they are now not in line with the

manner and method in which it is being pursued.

YOUTH GOALS

Youth is not merely the period between childhood and adulthood but is typically regarded as an

ascribed status or socially constructed label, rather than simply the linguistic equivalent of the

biological characteristics and condition particular to the post infant stage of life. As per United

Nations criteria, young adult (youth) has been categorized as people in the age group of 15-24years but as per National Youth Policy (2003) of India, they have been put in the age group of 13-

35 years. Also youth is considered a time of passage between childhood and adulthood or a

period between puberty and parenthood. Young adults are typically characterized by freshness,

vigor and spirit both physical and mental. It is the age when creational cadence is played on the

chords of mind and miraculous tasks come about. Young adulthood is the spring of life that

revitalizes ones potential and is an age of discovery and dreams, ambitions and recreations. It is

an important phase of life in the context that it forms the plinth of personality development and

is the corner stone of future life. Adolescents bear a vastness in their vision and universality in

thoughts. When they dream, they dream high not only for the good future but rather take muchbroader stance by taking the nation, community, country and entire humanity along. Young

adults are recognized by the kind of potential they have to make or mar a society, to sew a fabric

of the society in the best of forms or to deteriorate the social fabric altogether. They are

undoubtedly the most imperative, precious and indispensable assets of a nation provided their

executions tally the commandments and the forbiddance corresponds to prohibitions, if not so

then the same young adults can create social havocs and chaos; thus more often it is dangerous

if it gets exposed to obnoxious influences, previously vague in every social institution. Youth has

the capacity to awaken the conscience of the nation and bring about desirable change in the

existing system. This stage of life is the foremost part of a society copious with powerful

resources, which can either construct or destruct the whole society. Every social order is


9/29

incomplete without them. Young adults epitomize the hope and future of a country. Any idea of

national development is just a parable without their active participation. Young adults play a

major and key role in the societal setup if worked around properly. Analogous to adolescents in

other parts, Kashmiri young adults have never lagged behind when called upon to meet a

challenge and to take a dynamic part in the social construction. They have played a pivotal rolein the socio-economic regeneration of the society to perpetuate their prominent character in

communal fabrication except some sections. Kashmir, like any other place, is a society ridden

with many evil practices, diabolic dogmas and bugged with arrogance and ignorance today. If the

young adults ensure their association in a drive against these practices, a functional social

transformation can be witnessed. As Alvin Toffle, an American writer and futurist says, the

secret message communicated to most young people today by the society around them is that

they are not needed, that the society will run itself quite nicely until they at some distant point

in the future will take over the reigns. Youth have been distanced from the mainstream and

discouraged on every front, particularly on the political platform, resulting in the youth bulge.

For a society, to attempt to solve its desperate problems without the full participation of young

people is imbecile.

YOUTH VISION

Although we see a perceptible change in the way the youth have transitioned from gun totters

to advocate of peace and stability, the question remains what do their political vision hold for

Kashmir? This is important because the aspirations of the youth are entwined with the political

future of the region. These two cannot be treated as mutually exclusive factors, though views

may differ from case to case.

The understanding of a desired political future may vary as stated earlier but overall view may

be captured through the prism of rights. What is implied here is not just a failure of the ruling

establishment to address what was promised but also overwhelming importance given to

territorial sovereignty of India and Pakistan has stripped the Kashmiri people of their basic rights

as human beings. A change in political status quo of Kashmir dispute vis a vis Pakistan was also

desired. That brings to fore, the need to explore the question of Azaadi in right light which would

include freedom from all kinds of human rights abuses, freedom of speech, restoration of peace

and prevalence of democratic space along with other endowments of a functional and stable

society. Otherwise, the ghastly summers of 2008, 2009 and 2010 will be repeated in the near

future. Those three years saw more blood spill than had in preceding years which says that some

things need immediate redress and not empty promises.

Youth anger is spontaneous but not completely irrational. It has been building up since several

years and no amount of economic package or confidence building measures could inhibit that. It

flared for the first time in 1989, then again in 2008 with land transfer. This was followed with

well participated assembly elections. But 2009 Shopian rape and murder case kindled protests

again along with botched up investigations. It again confirmed peoples doubt in institutions of

justice followed by mayhem of 2010, a year that saw broad day light killing at the hands of

government forces of more than 120 protesters and bystanders, most of them youth. The

governments callous and insincere response along with use of brute force opened up a new


10/29

front which reminded of old days of insurgency. Add to it Kashmirs historical realities and the

unheeded political aspiration of freedom, the deep and old aspirations continue to thrive even

as Kashmir lies in heart of a changing discourse.

OBJECTIVES

In reality, the huge burden of the conscious cluelessness along with the lack of intellectual

framework to deal with the difficulties of the conflict situation, has further complicated the

Kashmir situation today (prolonged and painful). The fatalistic anxieties extending beyond

politics have led to an acute social breakdown and identity crisis among the masses (every one is

a leader for him or herself). A deep unease among the masses is quite visible but without any

loud cry (dissent for violence but frightened). Also, there is an overabundance of moral

disagreements within- for example, whose Kashmir they want to seize from India? Where are

we, the Kashmiris, in this whole rights game? Who governs us in true sense today? Why does

the centre delay the redressal of public grievances time and again? Who are the youth of

Kashmir actually-a hindrance or an asset for the nation? Kashmir currently is nothing but a bunch

of mass confusions and saga of injustice, as perceived by the young adults of all the sections of

the society.

Still, there prevails a lot of misunderstanding and miscalculation among the masses like

Kashmir is governed by the military, the whole cultivable land is grabbed by security forces,

Pandits will never return home, Pakistan can liberate Kashmir within minutes, Autonomy is

useless, Article 370 will be abrogated by BJP (Bhartiya Janta Party), the draconian laws like AFSPA

(Armed Forces Special Powers Act) and PSA(public safety act) cannot be revoked at all or AFSPA

is a holy book for armed forces, Infiltration cannot be stopped because of the LoC situation,

policing cannot be public friendly at all, Kashmiri youth bulge is a big problem, international

community is seriously thinking about Kashmir problem, world is only looking at us, United

Nations is pressurizing India to resolve the Kashmir issue, US will finally favour Pakistan, etc,.

Such ideas have penetrated deep down into the mass psyche due to constant motivation of

vested interests, ignorance, presentation of distorted facts, and arm chair sermons of the so

called K-experts.

Lack of clarity, basic foot work, consistency, proper public centered agenda and a clear Kashmir

issue solution and vision is still a void with the major political establishments. Even the alleged

peace initiatives are not aimed at peace always; besides, the constant mishandling of the public

aspirations along with a glut of broken promises on better governance, transparency,

employment, development, safety and security, etc, that have so far failed to translate on the

ground. The political class has time and again failed to meet the goals and promises particularly

on political aspects of Kashmir complexity. Once elected, they fail to put the lingering K-issue in

the limelight and small local issues never come to an end as their public agenda. Also, those (the

people of the government, activists and others) who represent Kashmir on TV channels or in

debates are themselves an embarrassment to Kashmiris and the K-Issue for they only discuss


11/29

emotions rather than facts-some even abuse the anchors reflecting their frustration, political

immaturity, volatility and lack of knowledge.

Kashmirs holistic social collective has gone mishandled since the conflict broke in. Due toinstitutional collapse during the peak conflict situation and consistent atmosphere of fear and

chaos, things went off beam to a great extent and this damage was done both by the state and

non-state actors. At the ideological level, people also suffered much for there has hardly been

any functional consensus among the same stakeholders, the members of the separatist brigade

or among the mainstream political players majorly due to power or position/attention-seeking

insatiability. For the public embarrassment and confusion, there still exist a plethora of groups

who claim that they work for the people; but, with narrow ideologies, non-feasible goals and

pure economic interests for themselves. Further, the ideological divide, visionless leadership,

corrupt politics, biased media, lack of delivery on social justice, etc, have collectively marred the

possibilities of harmony, thereby jeopardizing the life of the common man. Additionally, the self-

centered political philosophies, power hunger among the power share holders, verbal diarrhea

of issuing statements over everything or nothing and opposition for the sake of disagreement

along with covering everything with religion (incorrect as deemed by religion) to the conflict by

vested interests and amateurs has actually disturbed the life of the common man. Amid so much

of the collateral damage and perpetual loss, every Kashmiri grieves at the destruction around.

People also are currently in utter confusion about which brigade to follow or whom to avoid and

where to go to find a serene life. Whats more is that the issues of sustenance, growing

criminality, poverty and livelihood have trapped the peoples minds. Everybody is fed up with

the unceasing bloodshed and vagueness that exists till date.

YOUTH POLICIES AND ACCOUNTABILITY

As per policies of jammu and kashmir are considered, policies are more government centric

rather than people centric . As per survey our state jammu and kashmir is one of most corrupt

state. Actually it is the policies which directly effects the smooth functioning of any particular

state. As per following review in policies are important for making accountability and rationale

opportunity to every one.

Instill a sense of national unity and social cohesion in the young people while recognizing and

respecting the diversitiesin religion, language, culture, ethnicity, lifestyle and habitatin the

country. They should be groomed to become promoters of peace and harmony in the

community in which they live.

Foster in young people not only an abiding commitment and adherence to the values enshrined

in our Constitution but also develop them as key promoters of these values in all sections of the

society. They should play a significant role in advancing appropriate standards and values of

ethical conduct in individual and social life.


12/29

Through a sustained programme of education and training and appropriate support services,

help young people become economically self-reliant and productive units of the country, either

by taking up employment or by setting up their own business enterprises.

Empower youth to take up the challenge of eliminating all forms of social and economic

discrimination and exploitation; counter forces that threaten to undermine national harmony;and launch a crusade against unhealthy social practices, evils and becomes sensitive towards

human rights.

Through a programme of training and education, guide them in a manner that they become

active partners in promoting sustainable development, contributing productively to national and

local initiatives in maintaining harmonious balance between ecological and environment

considerations, on the one hand, and developmental needs, on the other.

Facilitate access to all sections of youth to basic nutrition and health especially related to

reproductive and sexual health information, facilities and services including access to mentalhealth services ; promote a healthy lifestyle, free of substance abuse and other unhealthy

addictions, and dissuade them for engaging in harmful sexual practices.

Enhance the availability of facilities in sports and constructive recreation for all sections of youth

with special focus on disabled youth and female youth.

Instill and nurture a spirit of volunteerism among the youth; develop their competencies in

various areas of social development; and extend opportunities to enable them to contribute

productively to the welfare of their communities.

Through a wide range of initiatives, including educational and training opportunities, instill inyoung women and men a culture of scientific thinking, critical analysis, and rational attitude in

their day-to-day life; and make them sensitive to the needs and concerns of socially and

economically disadvantaged sections of the society.

Help youth to develop an international perspective on issues of global significance and work for

promoting international understanding and a just and non-discriminatory global order.

Through affirmative action and measures, extend support to priority groups young women,

socially and economically disadvantaged youth, and youth living with physical, sensory and

intellectual impairments and ensure that they become part of mainstream development process.

Encourage voluntary sector to create appropriate platforms which promote youth volunteering

and support recruitment and training of youth for social action in the community.

Encouraging youth engagement in monitoring and evaluation process of development work

undertaken by government and non-government structures including the PRI.

DEFINING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

jeopardized by the hovering clouds of political uncertainty in early 1990s, young adults naturallyjoined the chaos and turned themselves into a chaotic mob rather than an ordered group


13/29

because of their being the most vulnerable, devoid of guidance and counseling, less parental

control/social control and callous links with exposable section of the society. With the arrival of

gun-culture in the valley every one suffered to the worst and young adults deteriorated the

most. The creepy dance of unaccountable deaths and destruction dramatized on the screen of

independence on a large scale continued and young adults responded to it group wise. Onewho was sent outside the state by his parents to suffer; another who crossed the LoC to suffer

forever; other group popularly known as Ikhwanis(surrendered militants) who joined armed

forces and resided in military camps were another threat to the peace and security of the

common man. Such self styled men were very arrogant in nature that used ferocity for all the

purposes and thus marred the whole regulatory system, turning the valley into a land of

lawlessness, anarchy and escalating the enormity of prevalent socio-political entropy. Another

section of young adults included those who simply lived with this frozen turbulence and

witnessed the things as they happened. Last but not the least, that section of young adults which

left their motherland out of fear, compulsion and helplessness (Pandit young adults) in that

tumultuous situation, thus lost their cultural, ethical, moral and social roots to their indigenous

land and faced tremendous difficulties in adjustment outside, the female Pandit young adults

turned more vulnerable in alien settlements outside the state or Kashmir division, thereby

disturbing their psycho-social development and education and career prospects. In addition to

this, Pandit young adults lost their sense of secure psyche both inside and outside the valley. In

all this bedlam, the female young adults suffered the most. During the initial phase of armed

struggle, the female young adults rubbed shoulders with men, and in many cases proved more

effective than men, especially when the forces would pick up the young adults, etc. They even

resisted the detention of any young adults, and protested along with men against the atrocities

of the State.

Thus, conflict made Kashmiri female young adults to acquire new roles, and with it came its own

set of problems and responsibilities. Women have proved to be oceans of sacrifice and courage

and they are delivering all that these roles demand from them with a smile on their face. But

there is a flipside of the conflict which is having an adverse effect on women and has made them

more vulnerable to various evils and mental/psychological ailments for their rights were violated

with impunity and were subjected to suffering and pain.

So, it can be argued that young adults, irrespective of their gender, suffered to the worst post

90s. In short, some were guided and some unguided and still more pathetic; rest were

misguided, shaping up Kashmir as the icon of growing anthropological heterogeneity and an

abode of anger, chaos and unholy slaughter. Besides, conflict situation amidst growing

unhappiness, frustration, mental trauma and above all economic crisis and acute dependence

culminated into different nature of crimes and undesirabilities in the valley which habitually had

negative ramifications for young adults like drug abuse, torturing thefts, eve-teasing, smuggling,

murdering and many other sorts of deviant and anti-social behaviors.

TARGET YOUTH GROUPS

Kashmir has witnessed a turbulent history since 1931 and principally in the post 1947 period

which later got transformed into a full-fledged armed conflict in 1989, followed by mass killings,


14/29

disappearances, alarming widowhood, mass rapes and other myriad of crimes and human rights

violations. It is worth mentioning that young adults of Kashmir and Palestine are different from

the other sensitive young adults of the world. They are not what Alfred Blumstein, a renowned

American researcher on criminology, calls super predators, who have littleregard for human

life or what Goldstone, the American sociologist calls youth bulge

and youth bulge relatedbloodshed. No doubt ,they are both the worst victims and perpetrators of violence but their

violent behavior is not absurd except that it carries a message deeply embedded with meaning,

depicting their pathetic alienation in their own motherland. Their sufferings and agonies still

remain uncovered, be that societal, psychological, collective or individual. Their aggressive

actions are in fact their retaliation, protest, powerlessness, pain and anguish against their life at

ebb and at odds. Their anti-social behavior is actually the vent against all that discrimination

meted to and inflicted upon them and against their dear ones throughout the ongoing

turbulence in the Valley and against their feeling of gasping life and that of being estranged,

worthless, valueless, neglected and oppressed. Their astringent experience of prejudice, their

undervalued estimation remains hidden beneath their cozy musculature which at times nurses

their negative traits and the stiff reality of their being created criminals, deviants or drug

abusers that compels them to feel isolated as they are labeled with different tags. They are

booked in the company of hardcore criminals in jails, which worsens and erodes their personality

development and those who escape tortures and arrests even after crossing their twenties feel a

terrible burden upon their families primarily because of a very limited domain of jobs,

inadequate choices and the deficiency of income generating avenues in the state which is not

the case with the majority of the young adults in India. Labeling them violent, outlaws and rebels

is simply a bureaucratic and state rhetoric to justify the outrageous civilian killings that reached

to 120 innocent murders in the 2010 summer unrest alone. Young adults are weary of theconflict now and want to prosper in a cool, safe and secure atmosphere.

Adolescents of the present day round the globe have developed their own sub-culture (a

distinctive ethnicity that shares many elements of mainstream civilization but maintains its own

customs, values, norms and lifestyles) called the youth-culture. They tag it as their distinctive

social identity which is more clearly differentiated from that of their parents. However, in

Kashmir; Conflict and Modern Education has decked up the Culture of Young adults. The dearest

import of this aspired bandying among Kashmiri Youths under the attire of continuous exposure

to hostility has made Youth Culture in Kashmir unique both in terms of nature and texture. The

freedom loving way-of-life among young adults on one hand has been well fostered by moderneducation and the exposure inspired by big city schools amid external influence. On the other

hand, as for tradition and modernity is concerned, there has been a coexistence witnessed in

social practices among these groups.

Tradition is the set of collective procedures which seek to celebrate and inculcate certain

behavioral norms and values, implying continuity with a real or imagined past and usually

associated with widely accepted rituals or other forms of symbolic behavior and Modernity. To

begin with, we must establish what constitutes modernity: the expression encapsulates the

progress of societies, from primitive civilizations which evolved steadily through distinct stages,

arriving at a modern age characterized by industrialization and capitalism, culminating in thecurrent, post-modern state of globalization which shapes the contemporary society with an ever-


15/29

increasing momentum. Kashmiri students, particularly young adults in higher education, also

share distinct youth culture. Throughout the world, there is a multiplicity of youth cultures based

on social class, status, gender identity, geographical location, etc. However, talking of youth

culture in college and University campuses, it may not be apt to talk of multiplicity of youth

cultures in Kashmir. Though there is no doubt about the diversity of backgrounds likedifferentiated social class, gender, ethnicity, locations etc, still, mutual communication and

interaction is a common social reality especially at big learning centers like university campuses

or colleges. Expert participant and non-participant observations have revealed that the young

adults have consciously or unconsciously developed their own culture which is quite different

from the traditions of their parents and families. Despite diverse backgrounds, young adults in

universities and colleges have many habits in common like food customs, dress pattern, working

pattern, recreation and entertainment pattern, etc,.

The manifestation of distinctive youth culture at campuses is more a leisure, method conscious

attitude where there is a high concern of personal appearance leading to quick imitation etc.University has turned into a modeling institution. More attachment to peers and colleagues has

given rise to a distinctive mental and social setup. It has made young adults vulnerable to the

new evils of modernity.

Our youth culture is no doubt the culture of leisure. Both male and female students spend a lot

of time in chitchats, gossips, loitering, enjoying music, video sharing and playing etc. Batch mates

develop friendship and there is little consideration for individual friends who are not from the

campus. Especially the campus youth culture is manifested in the form of group formation.

Youth sit, walk, talk, eat and spend time with specific colleagues and friends. This is also true that

the campus young adults are more interested in aspects and ideas forcing them to be figureconscious; they are more after body centered commodities, use of distinctive language forms

(usually an amalgam of Urdu-English-Kashmiri), playing with cell phones, long time phone

conversations, strange music tastes and a great amount of idle discussions.

There are a number of reasons of this youth culture on campuses. The most important amongst

these are the rise in disposable income available to the students, easy flow of pocket money and

money got from other educational expenditures drawn from parents and lengthening of the

period of childhood into adulthood, caused by a greater involvement in education up to the age

of 27 or even above. Late marriage is a modern trend, owing to higher education, joblessness

and a new way of life. Second, the societies in transition which till recent past were not so opento the elements of the modern world have now become exposed due to globalization, higher

education, better exposure to the outer world, etc., The cocoon burst and young adults were

immediately and highly vulnerable to every new style, fashion, practices, etc., and they did

everything just to look modern. Cultural imitation also plays its part. Thirdly, identity and

personality crisis have given rise to the adoption and imitation of new styles. Students try to be

the centre of concern. They suffer a lack of recognition and identity in the existing environment

so they imitate and innovate to make others feel they are not different, low cultured, backward,

e.g., rural-urban concern, racial or ethnic concern, etc.

However, a functional aspect of our youth culture is that rural-urban differences, biases andidentities, regional images, status grin and its staunch consciousness, etc. is on a declining trend,


16/29

may be due to development of reason out of increasing education and outer exposure. However,

a dismal certainty and a doom spelling and career destroying practice of drug addiction and

some other deviant tendencies like criminality of stone pelting (Kanneh Jung in local parlance) at

security forces have alarmingly crept in our youth culture which is enough to destroy its moral

conscience to reduce it to nonexistence and a deviant sub-culture.Higher educated young adults are between the devil and the deep sea. Confrontations of young

adults with the traditional value system, their limitations to adhere to the principal of continuity

and change, identity crisis, hollow and negative stereotyping about others, blind replication of

other cultures, volatile attitude, brisk response to new social phenomenon, misunderstanding

modernity and development and ignoring continuality of phenomenon are welcome puffs of

nature of the campus young adults culture, which if not realized and noticed at the right time

may destroy its basic moral foundation , traditional and cultural ethos in general.

Kashmiri young adults though bearing prodigious resilience and moral conscience, have been

maliciously exposed to the whims of modernity in the form of certain dysfunctional cultural and

social encounters. The prolonged socio-political mayhem and a sort of frozen turbulence since

decades have despoiled their individuality and liberty and have turned them into a confounded

personality and tamed in them the passivity of individuality and personality crisis. If treated in

sociological terms, modernity in real sense hardly connotes the total annulment of ones own

traditions and socio-cultural ethos, which we as Kashmiri young adults have imbibed wrongly

and have forgotten the principles of continuity and change. We rebuff to acknowledge that no

genuine and sustainable modernization is viable through mere blind imitation, as it is a multi-

lateral process of expansion, elevation, revitalization of traditional values and cultural patterns.

Modernity should be defined in relation to, and not in denial of, tradition. Kashmiri young adultshave been blindly entrapped in a narrow well and have been consciously anesthesized in a state

of sub-consciousness following a culture of concave imitation which has led to declination and

spurn of the spiritual tendencies, glorious vernacular chastity and local cultural settings.

Young adults in todays time are bound to suffer when the system has outrightly been eaten by

the dragon of corruption at every nook and corner and the pests of arrogance, ignorance,

intolerance and hedonism have distorted the delicacy of our punctilious social fabric. The other

aspect pertaining to young adults stereotyping is that there has always been a stiff tussle

between our tradition and modernity and the young adults have often been misunderstood by

the elders and vice-versa. The elders feel that the young adults being immature andinexperienced usually indulge in thoughtless and trifling activities which otherwise is not so but

is shaping up and sharpening the growing inter-generational gap. The fact is not only with the

voting age of 18 years have the young adults become politically important, but also due to the

states high political culture since decades owing to political instability, chaos and turbulence;

young adults are conspicuously politically conscious and seminal as well due to vested interests

in them from all corners. Realizing this, they more or less shape Kashmir politics.

Furthermore, it is highly pertinent to mention that with the arrival of cell phones in the valley in

2004, instead of taking due advantage from it, a negative trend took place out of our transitional

character as most of the young adults turned nomophobic and this mobile-mania has had lots oframifications and social implications like fostered lavishness, loitering, excessive addiction to


17/29

social networking, excessive and increased love affairs, misuse and immorality, etc. The dismal

manner in which face-book, twitter and other social networks are misused and overused is a

cause of grave concern. It has not only brought moral implications but has given birth to a

society where laws of social science seem dysfunctional and thus it becomes herculean to ratify

such an eroded social fabric. Besides, it has metamorphosed the psyche of young adults in anabhorable manner by reducing them from active bio-spiritual beings to techno-material puppets.

Social media has wreaked havoc and has deep penetrated in every corner of the valley engaging

youth in another game. Also, tweeting on everything now is a new mania in Kashmir and has

turned to be a symbol of VIP-ism at this time.

The sociological analysis of Kashmiri young adults reveal that they are anxious, politically

neurotic and have been caught in identity and personality crisis. As a result, a larger chunk of

them have been adopting every cognizable hook and crook methodology to follow or fall prey to

venomous, obnoxious and lethal ideologies and adopting practices without judging and applying

their reason. They have developed a strange busyness and un-directional, unproductive anduncalled-for priorities for themselves in which media has played an active role by placing them

on a new platform through advertising patterns, serials, unceasing reality and request shows,

spread of new fashion channels, nude shows, etc, forcing them to exercise the experiences and

be vulnerable to new situations like fantasy dressing, narcissism, vagrancy, vulgarity and thereby

defeating the actual goal of modernization, religiosity, reasonable life and rational sense.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Arrests, restraints and use of police as a means of control are no answer to an issue which has an

internationally established mechanism in place for its resolution. The revelation that Central

Road Fund has awarded Rs 79.39 to Valley and a massive Rs 208.81 crores to the Jammu region

in last three years has added salt to the injury, precipitating a well-founded belief of policy

discrimination at core in Delhi. During the previous fiscal year 2013 alone, seven projects worth

Rs 85 crores were sanctioned to Jammu while just one project of Rs 15.59 crore was sanctioned

in Ganderbal Bopaspora-Watelbagh bridge for Kashmir. During 2013-2014 Kashmir has paid

Rs825 crore in income tax and Jammu has made a payment of Rs 232 crores in income tax only.

Kashmir region having the highest representation in Legislative Assembly, its legislators have

failed to secure required funds under Central Road Fund unlike Jammu region which managed a

huge fund flow. The poor fund flow to the land-locked valley to upgrade its road network has

severely dented the developmental works and has thrown up an army of unemployed youth.

Elected representatives in the J & K assembly (referenced in UN SC Resolution of 30 March 1951)

seem to be using the elected tenure for their private gains and in offering themselves for

compromises of various sorts at the cost of their constituencies and the constituents. The

corruption has turned into a no holds barred means of profit.

While Chaophaya Dialogue in Thailand and AAC in Srinagar were busy in debate and

incrementing an informed interaction between the communities, a group of Kashmiri Pandits

have urged the Centre to announce confidence building measures while addressing the issue of

their return to the Valley. We should all join Kashmiri Pandits in their desire to return and in their

demands that Modi Government should announce confidence building measures as an insurance


18/29

for their return. So far so good except that these Kashmiri Pandits under the banner of Panun

Kashmirs womens wing have agitated a caveat that all Kashmiri Pandits be rehabilitated in a

single homeland with Union Territory status in Kashmir. This demand would be regarded as

uncharacteristic of their history, life and culture in Kashmir. It would create a divide between the

two communities and many Muslim and people of other faiths would be tempted to regard it aswicked desire. We support their return in safety and in dignity as a priority issue and we also

support their request that the government announces fast-track tribunals to start court

proceedings on various cases related to the exodus of the community. One would not be

encouraged to see Kashmiri Pandits in 2014 campaigning for a separate homeland with Union

Territory status in the disputed State of Jammu and Kashmir. It would throw their bona fides as

State Subjects and good neighbours into a serious disrepute.

India and Pakistan shall have to challenge and compete each other in their share of regional

influence and the constituency of international support. There is no harm that each does work to

establish a distinct national identity. However, it is harmful for the people of two countries andthe region, if India and Pakistan maintain polarized identities. India still remains the worlds

largest democracy beset with many problems, significant among these remain Kashmir and fears

of Muslims of India (after Modis victory) as the largest minority in the world.Pakistan having

sealed the debate and any doubt on its defence capability after acquiring the nuclear weapon

has started dealing with its internal challenges, the important being war against terrorism. It has

a unique position in the region and in particular in around 57 Muslim countries represented in

the OIC. India through diplomatic channels in New Delhi has wished Pakistan success in her war

against terrorists. So is every civilian in Pakistan determined to see its army successful in

Waziristan. It is for the first time that political and military leadership are seen on the same page

on securing the territories of Pakistan for the people of Pakistan.

POLICY IMPERATIVE AND PROPOSED INTERVENTIONS

Whenever we talk about Kashmir, it is discussed in the backdrop of 1949 UN and Security Council

resolutions. In this context, 65 years have been passed pertaining the Kashmir dispute. it is not

only India, which changes its stance with passage of time at various occasions, and our stance is

stable. We need to accept this reality that the change in stance is not unilateral but is bilateral.

It is why that entire region is unstable. We shall confess that post 9/11 had distorted entire localand global scenario hence there were repercussions on Kashmir issue also. The war on

terrorism emerged as prime issue at global level, therefore the other disputes become

secondary. Whether it was a dispute of Kashmir, Palestine or Chechnya. These entire nations

were fighting for their liberty, freedom or right to self determination when the organizations of

United Nations was supporting them but these genuine freedom struggle were brought under

the tag of terrorism. They were dubbed terrorists. The will power of the people had been

diluted who were struggling for their basic rights and were forced to compromise their principle

positions.

It is strange that for the last 65 years the families of the people of Kashmir are divided by theCeasefire line. They can gaze at each other, they do see the funerals of their relatives but they


19/29

are not allowed to intermingle. This human tragedy is the gross Human rights violation of the

Globe.

As for as Kashmir dispute is concerned, we talk bilaterally but it shall be ensured that UnitedNations resolutions shall be taken in consideration. From 1972 till today the bilateralism did not

resolve the conflict. The outside intervention is imperative for implementation of resolutions.

We are passing through an era where there is hegemony of USA. The monogram of KAC

indicates the dominance of USA and we are getting the same impression. We are celebrating

5th

February as an solidarity day with Kashmir. We want to make it clear that elections are not

alternative to the UN mandated referendum. I dont see the transparency and authenticity of

elections in entire south Asian region. The people who are at hem of affairs are being caught in

electoral quandary.

The policy and strategy on Kashmir is lacking. Just to stick on one stand and do nothing is notenough. It is like, we are believers of Almighty Allah but dont have deeds in our kitty. The Holly

Quran never talks of belief in isolation of deeds. Therefore if we dont do good deeds, we cannot

talk about the Islam. To have principal stand is good but we need have a strategy for practical

implication with a definite policy and strategy. If we are lacking in practical implication, we cant

become the advocates of the Kashmir dispute.

Whenever there was a dialogue, the trade is discussed. It is principally agreed that trade is vital

for progress in the region but Kashmir dispute remains the main concern between our two

governments. So I am repeatedly talking about the conflict to be integral to any dialogue.

The colleagues who have been accompanying me during various dialogue processes do know my

point of view. Whenever Pakistan initiates a dialogue process, it brings the case of Kashmirs

right to self-determination. This case is the principle political stand of Pakistan.

Why we say that Kashmir is Jugular vein of Pakistan. Because the agriculture of Pakistan is

dependent on the rivers of Kashmir. Kashmir is imperative for Pakistan. Whenever we talk about

Kashmir, we talk in accordance with our principle stand.

There are other forums available were we can talk about other interests of Pakistan. There had

been talks regarding trade. That initiative about trade was taken by European Union and not

Pakistan. The WTO intents to review the MFN status the agreement that is suspended since

1965. They are working for it. There three fundamentals of Pakistans economy: Agriculture,

Trade and Industry. If there is agriculture, then there will be industry. If there is agricultural

production, then there will be trade. However if India diverts the direction of rivers and builds

the electricity generation powerhouses and dams, then entire agriculture of Pakistan would be

destroyed. Therefore, we say that trade has no relevance until the Kashmir conflict is put on the

road to a settlement. The resolution of Kashmir is imperative that will guarantee peace and

progress in the region of South Asia.


20/29

POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND COORDINATION MECHANISM

Conflict Sensitive approach while planning and implementing developmental policies..is this

the way forward? There is a growing need for implementing agencies/ administration to use a

conflict sensitive approach in planning and implementing developmental policies (be it land

policy/land and governance/water/forest rights, rural development, employment generation,

housing schemes etc). In the absence of such an approach, instead of trust building governance

initiatives have ended up fuelling conflict, be it the case of PRI election in the State of Jammu

and Kashmir held in 2011 or the failure to effectively implement provisions of the PESA

(Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act as a tool for conflict amelioration and

transformation in Chhattisgarh and other states. Across the country we are thus seeing that

well intentioned governance measures, when not implemented in its true spirit especially in

conflict prone region, only go on to fuel mistrust and resentment towards the administration.

Meanwhile what we hear are stories of everyday resistance in accessing government schemes

and the glaring gap between policies and actual implementation on the ground. These pressingconcerns we hear about in the media or through first-hand experiences during visits to conflict

affected regions raise some vital questions: What impact has development funds had in regions

of conflict and how best can their benefits be harnessed by the citizens of those regions? How

best can enabling legislations and local governance institutions act as means for conflict

amelioration/resolution and transformation? How can local capacities for conflict mitigation be

harnessed?

Monitoring and evaluation of youth policy is critical in the conflict trodden societies. There are

various areas in which much work is need to that it earns a good record in the future times.

1. AGRICULTURE & ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

Draw up a long term strategy for productivity increase in agriculture

Large network of water harvesting tanks, lift irrigation and construction of area specific new

canal network for assured irrigation

Upgrade soil testing facilities

Rehbar-e-Zirat, scheme of state government to be continued for next 2-3 years and also used

for monitoring the implementation of the various rural development programmes

Production of Basmati Rice of Jammu to be enhanced with infrastructure upgradation,

provision of inputs and marketing support

Flexibility under the RKVY Scheme to be utilized by the state to direct expenditure into priority

areas

Expand the centrally sponsored Rural Backyard Poultry Scheme

Start monthly treatment camps in a phased manner to tackle the problem of infertility and

diseases in the bovine population


21/29

Enhance the private Paravet Scheme of the state government to train educated unemployed

youth from rural areas and engage them for artificial insemination and veterinary first aid to

animals

Revival and modernization of the government sheep breeding farms

2. Horticulture

Effective utilization of funds under Horticulture Mission for North East and Himal ayan States

(HMNEH)

The scheme on Economic Revival of J&K Saffron Sector to be expanded to reclaim the areas

which had gone out of saffron cultivation due to poor returns

To improve productivity, rejuvenate /replant orchards and in the case of apples use

biotechnology, molecular and nuclear techniques, propagation using DNA identification and

mapping systems

Encourage Private and Public investment in technologies for post-harvest handling of

horticultural produce and upgrade the existing facilities and capacities in the public sector food

processing enterprises

Department of Agriculture to consider simplifying procedures under MM-IV of the Technology

Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture. Encourage use of e-portal, decentralize the

procedure for appraisal and grant of financial assistance and monitoring through banks and

financial institutions

Identify mandis in the state and convert them into model market places having supportfacilities, post-harvest management facilities and chilling facilities

3. Tourism

Put in place a PPP policy, which will address the land related concerns in a practical manner for

the tourism sector especially in creating hotels and resorts

Identify certain areas, where tourism development initiatives by the private sector would be

eligible for incentives ranging from capital investment subsidy, interest subsidy to exemption of

service tax for the hotel industry

To encourage the pilgrims to stay longer, Jammu to develop potential alternative religious

circuits

Improve the condition of the roads, regular state transport buses, helicopter services and

budget hotels

DevelopBuddhist Circuit in Ladakh

Develop mosques and dargahs located at places of historical significance

Capacity building of the youth to act as khadims/shrine guides


22/29

Set up a working group with members from Ministries of Home, Defence, External Affairs and

Indian Mountaineering Federation to undertake a comprehensive review of the restrictions

(including those on the use of satellite phones) and subject to security concerns make

relaxations wherever possible

Work towards building capacities of the local youth and potential entrepreneurs in tourismsector

Encourage border tourism by developing the Suchetgarh border on the lines of the Wagah

border

To attract the religious tourists, create recreational activities within Jammu, operate a luxury

Volvo bus service to Srinagar and introduce a Jammu-Ladakh flight at least 2-3 times a week to

begin with

Establish an integrated online tourism portal in PPP mode

Undertake promotion and publicity campaigns in the pr int and visual media

Promote convention tourism

4. Handicraft

Implement the Carpet Mega Cluster in the Srinagar area in PPP mode

Set up smaller carpet production centres with basic facilities in areas where there are 40-50

artisans

Develop a mega cluster of the Gabba, Namda and Crewel crafts in Anantnag district and an

embroidery crafts cluster in the state

Establish a model production zone, create public awareness, organize national and

international business events related to fashion and handicrafts and set-up dedicated web

domains for specific crafts

Strict legal action to protect the Geographical Indication

Launch a campaignto build a Kashmir brand

Develop a craft circuit where the tourists could be taken around the artisans work place

Integrated Skill Development Scheme For The Textiles And Apparel Sector Including Jute And

Handicrafts may be leveraged to train 500 craftsmen per annum for the next two years

5. Medium Scale and Micro Enterprises and IT & ITES Sector

Revive J&K State Financial Corporation (JKSFC) by providing a one-time grant from the PMs

Reconstruction Package

Allocate extra fund to J&K for skill development to build capacities of the rural artisans in thePrime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)


23/29

Accord marketing preference to SSI units

6. Information Technology and IT Enabled Services

Co-ordinate with DoT, BSNL, VSNL and the security agencies to connect all districts of the state

through networking system

Preference may be given to local companies for implementing the public e-governance/IT

projects

Support IT and ITES entrepreneurs by simplifying procedures and create infrastructure in terms

of IT/ITES/BPO parks in PPP mode

Cable termination station/internet exchange link to be extended up to Srinagar and

government to consider giving bandwidth subsidy

Encourage private sector to become ISPs

Introduce IT education in schools and colleges

7. Skill Development and Placement Scheme

Launch a special skill development and placement scheme for J&K in PPP mode. This Skill,

Empowerment and Employment Scheme will provide placement linked, market driven skill

training to 50,000-1,00,000 youth in 3-5 years

Undertake a special industry initiative in PPP mode for J&K for enhancing the skills and

employability of 40,000 youth in five years. The companies that have expressed interest are

Infosys Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, Godrej & Boyce, BILT, Crompton Greaves,Avantha Group, Bajaj Auto, WWFI, JCB India, Tata Motors, Tata Global Beverages and Apollo

Hospitals.

Special scheme by Infosys Technologies for creating a special training program (STP) in

collaboration with IIIT Bangalore

8. Increasing Access to Education

Launch a Special Scholarship Scheme for Jammu and Kashmir to benefit 25,000 students over aperiod of 5 years. The scholarships will be for general, engineering and medical studies. They will

cover full tuition fee, hostel fee, cost of books and other incidentals

The state government should tie up with some large corporates for FEP for their technical

institutions

Organize regular capacity building training programmes for the principals, senior faculty

members and state directorate officers

Persuade private schools and educational institutions to accommodate children from J&K.

Delhi Public School to set aside seats for children from J&K


24/29

IGNOU to launch two Regional Placement Centres (RPC) one each in Srinagar and Jammu to

provide an interactive job portal.The RPC to also provide career specific counselling, competency

mapping and train job aspirants to plug skill gaps

Conduct Ayurvedic Therapy Programme in collaboration with IGNOU

9. Implementation Mechanism

Set up a strong monitoring system in the central government

MONITORING AND EVALUATION/SUGGESTIONS:

The economy of Jammu and Kashmir has suffered from disturbed conditions prevailing in the

State for almost two decades. It would, therefore, be necessary to put the economy back on the

rails to enable the average person to get employment opportunities. This would require giving

fillip to the economic activities that have traditionally been the mainstay of the States economy

and continue to hold significant potential for growth and employment. Such activities include

Agriculture (including Horticulture), Food Processing, Handicrafts and Handlooms, and Livestock

and Poultry farming on modern lines. It would be equally necessary to ensure diversification of

the State economy, especially expanding the industrial base by generally have a traditional bent

of mind. Diversification of agricultural activities is the need of the hour to keep up with the

changed circumstances.

The potential of Horticulture in J&K is high, given the rich diversity in its flora and fauna and

varied agro-climatic situation. The state enjoys monopoly in certain fruits, vegetables andmedicinal plants and there is an immense scope for increasing the production of other

horticulture produce that are marketed in rich and export markets. In order to achieve this

objective, it is important that the limiting factors in both production and marketing of fresh

produce are addressed speedily and linkages between farmers and buyers are established by

developing agricultural/horticultural mandies at faster pace and on modern and scientific lines.

This would not only reduce supply chain costs but would also help the farmers with an assured

market for their produce. Technological improvements are necessary to bring about lower costs

in processing as well as reducing wastages in fruits and vegetables.

Potential for bringing additional area under Walnut is enormous. As per preliminary estimatesabout 0.50 lakh hactates are available on which walnut cultivation can be undertaken

successfully. This will help to create green cover in hilly areas and conserve soil from erosion,

besides, proving high value wood for wood carving industry, as well as walnuts for export

purposes.

Absence of Post Harvest infrastructure-non-establishment of cold storages has locked the

growth of this sector. At present, post harvest losses are estimated about 20-30%. Surprisingly

there is not a single cold storage facility for apple preservation in the vally. The lack of this facility

forces the farmers to sell their produce at cheaper rates. According to the figures available,

4,00,000 tonnes of apple are ruined by the scab every year. Other diseases like alternaria, red


25/29

might and powdery mildew also spoil the crop. Cold storage facilities should be created in all the

districts of the State where the fruit could be stored for a longer period.

Jammu and Kashmir has unexploited capacity to produce products which have value demand

and ready for attractive markets both in India and Overseas (e.g. bio aromatics, medical herbs,

organic specialty vegetables etc. ). To enable exploitation of these opportunities, majorprogrammes are needed to educate farmers to change traditional production habits and grow

crops which the market will reward.

The food processing and horticulture industries are intimately related to areas of infrastructure

that include processing facilities such as cold chain, refrigerator facilities, and transport by both

rail and road to destination markets as well as market infrastructure for farmers to sell their

produce on remunerative prices. This when addressed in totality would bring about a lower cost,

high value delivering chain that can change the face of horticulture in the state. Horticulture

holds a great promise for the state. Apart from strengthening and diversifying the traditional

segments of fruits and mulberry, state need to harvest advantages in medical herbs, herbal

medicines and herbal cosmetics for which there is growing demand in the international market.

There is need to improve packing and standardization of the states horticulture produce.

The state has three distinct niches, while leisure tourism is available in Kashmir vally, Pilgrim in

Jammu and Ladakh has the potential to after adventure tourism. For the promotion and

development of the State from the tourism point of view, the Government should focus on the

history related tourism, identification of new areas/tourists destinations and promotion of

village tourism, pilgrimage tourism, tribal tourism, eco-tourism, health tourism, wildlife tourism

and cultural tourism. Tourism has a multiplier effect on income employment generation and

gives tremendous fillip to the economy. Looking towards the importance of tourism the

Government should bring tourism on rail by making all the tourist resorts more attractive to the

tourists.

Jammu and Kashmir is rich in handicrafts, so state Government must promote handicrafts

industries by increasing shopping arcade in their existing properties and provide space for

handicrafts industry to display their products.

CONCLUSIONThere is an overabundance of pessimistic stereotyping and false labeling against Kashmiri Young

adults in the holistic country but the need of the hour is to understand them, listen to them and

address their socio-political whims and aspirations and most prominently to create ample

provisions of social security for them. They do not feel safe outside Kashmir and to the dismay of

the holistic State, Kashmiri young adults have often been wrongly portrayed, presented shabbily

as violent minds, badly misinterpreted in reports as criminals, anti-national elements, Jihadis,

etc, mostly by the media and in writings and debates. To understand this section of the country,

one has to blend with them, debate with them, pay attention to them and give them a

benefitting reply so that a sense of belongingness to the country develops in them. They havebeen used and exploited by every stake holder for petty politics, vote bank or supported simply


26/29

to gain fame and capital. They are still devoid of a quality education, ample exposure to the rest

of the country, provisions of a respectful livelihood, a safe life with honour and dignity, etc. They

have been misrepresented in academics as well, because there has hardly been any integrated

approach being used as a methodology to evaluate their psycho-social and economic crisis.

In the given circumstances, one can safely conclude that common people, mostly young adults,have suffered at large during the turmoil continuing for decades now. They are facing a double

burden, the burden of unemployment and the burden of living in a conflict zone. Whether they

are Kashmiri Pandits or Muslims or from other communities, the wrath of political instability has

fallen on them brutally. Many of them still avoid living in the valley, given the insecure

geography. It remains to be seen whether young Pandits (children of Kashmiri Pandits) will ever

return to their mother land or whether they have adjusted in external areas for ever, owing to a

never ending chaos back home or their settlement outside and is it just the governments lack of

foreseeing vision for luring such young adults with residence settlements or job offers without

ensuring their security on priority basis. The fact is that their return needs governmentspractical will but at the outset we should be adamant that if the Pandits or other displaced

beings return and assimilate themselves, they shall be treated on an exact equality with

everyone else, for it would be an offence to discriminate against such fate bitten people. Hence,

it is the duty of all the stake holders to look into their grievances with a sincere heart, cutting

across their ideological, religious, regional and political differences and sentiments.

The fact is that all Kashmiri young adults are in dire need of sustainable and overall social

development which could be met with many primordial elements like education, employment

opportunities, health, justice, economic security, self-employment schemes, proper regulation

and disciplined operation and activities of police and other armed forces.

This portion of the population can do wonders out of their fertile minds, provided their

enthusiasm is harnessed in a positive direction for development and progressive work of the

state and society. The positive aspect with them despite prolonged suffering, conflict

atmosphere and mental chaos, they are not morally corrupt, they love their roots and culture.

They have embraced modernization but still retain the valleys age old traditional ethos with

them. Kashmiryat is their craze and hall mark of identity and they are not communal, what has

been unfortunately labeled against them. They still have a great regard for societal norms,

values, religious beliefs, ancient heritage and glory, etc, It is also worth mentioning that conflict

has turned every young adult of Kashmir a sociologist, a politician and a historian. Irrespective ofgender, they are politically and socially conscious, are fond of debates and have learned out of

the decades of the turbulence. Last but not the least, they have continued their education

despite the doom spelling turmoil in the valley and are pursuing research, higher education and

also striving for elite services and proving their mettle. The fact is, they have strived hard for

their sustenance and survival and despite lots of hurdles and unmet needs, are moving ahead

with confidence and enthusiasm. The need of the hour is to address their grievances, render

them ample platforms to provide an outlet for their thoughts and frustrations and check the

state repressive apparatus against them. Besides provision of youth friendly schemes and one

time solution of the political chaos in the state, there is a dire need to make them feel secure in

terms of security and employment.


27/29

Also, the need of the hour is to equally own all the youth populace irrespective of locations and

ethnicities, be that Tibetan (Tibetan-Kashmiri) youths, Gujjars, Paharis, Pashtu, Ladakhis and

Jammu youth, Sikhs, Christians, pandits, illiterate and deviants and most importantly the Female

youths belonging to the far-flung areas and lacking access to education and employment and all

the young adults who have been incarcerated for anti-national activities and thus marginalizedafter their return. Younger generation in this part of the world needs to be owned equally like

the youth from the rest of the country. They feel alienated because they have seen more of the

ugly picture of the states regulation and a lesser fraction of the beautiful part of the country.

Therefore, all stake holders be it the state government, the Center, civil society, NGOs, Military

institution of the country, policy makers, intelligentsia, and others need to think about this

bruised section of the Kashmiri populace and try to deliver in their own capacities so that long

lasting peace and the goals of progress and development are achieved. They are not just young

and angry as understood blindly but the State has to understand that young adults cannot be

empowered by MGNREGA or Haryali (IWDP ) or through Bijli, Pani and Sadak, but something that

really touches their skin and makes a difference in their lives.

I believe three things can really make a considerable difference in Kashmir and can actually

manufacture peace in this peace fragile zone. i.e.; The Just and egalitarian treatment to the

masses of Kashmir, Curbing politicization of government jobs and proper redress to the

frustrations of the States young adults and most importantly the skillful policing to avoid crisis

mishandling. Moreover, the provision of more government jobs is a must for the valley is not an

industrial zone like other places in India. Also, Self employment schemes have not proven fruitful

and despite all the schemes mentioned, there remains a greater quest for jobs, which is the first

issue confronting majority of the young adults today. There is a greater need of a victimization

survey to evaluate the level of crime against the young adults in the armed conflict situation.

In the same vein, Young adults in this part of the world need a special attention, guidance,

counseling, and above all opportunities to go forward and prove themselves. They can be

enabled to contribute for both the state and society, provided they are treated equally as a part

of the system that has failed them till date. Lastly, it is important to build up the autonomy of the

cultural fields such as filmmaking, music and journalism, fine arts, etc, among Kashmiri young

adults so as to widen their horizons. Also, there is a need to help them acquire the cultural

capital amongst themselves so as to develop aesthetic preferences, general cultural awareness,

educational and environmental credentials, etc, Kashmiri young adults have to achieve potential

in all competing fields and make efforts to strive for their excellence.

Is peace for Kashmir really tough to comprehend? Is the freedom the public desires same as the

freedom through packages, perks, packets or projects (PMs Rs 24,000 Crore package,

scholarships, MNREGA, NRHM, Udaan, etc,)? Or is it freedom from the barrel of the gun (from

across the border) or is it freedom from the dense military deployment or is it freedom through

mass transformation (into so called considerate beings who remain silent), etc. Today, as the

conflict continues despite democratic establishments, conflict resolution remains a distant

dream to accomplish. To understand this whole conflict scenario in an objective sense, we simply

need more and more interaction (no rocket science to deal with) with Kashmiri people and our

interactions need to be progressed on intercultural and multi-pronged lines aimed exclusively at


28/29

peace building. All organizations involved in conflict management need to ponder over their

tactics and tools. The elitist or theoretical pursuit of peace building puts the saddle on the wrong

horse. Sadly, we have set a culture where-in the actual (perception) targets are never met

(defeating the goal of knowing the groundswell in the real sense). Peace building is the domain

of those who know how to study masses (despite a confusing human nature). The situationdemands an understanding of the masses and also of the minority view point (vested interests,

resistant forces, separatists, etc). Security practitioners, responsible for perception management

(they are still clueless about the real meaning of perception wars), should desist from using the

much hyped and often repeated myths or reductionist beliefs of violence encouraged from

Pakistan, paid stone pelters of Kashmir, Ummah vs nationalism, Saudi-Salafi (wahabi) growth

spiral and associated social tensions, Islamism and Islamic terror, proxy war dilemma, etc,

because dissent and dissenting voices are natural when people feel caged and perturbed about

social inequality and selective exclusivity. Peace vanishes permanently when McCarthyism

(practice of making unfair allegations in order to restrict dissent or political criticism) becomes

the norm, violence becomes the weapon, masses become targets, when innocents are tortured

and when trust deficit reaches its zenith. When conflicts prolong meaninglessly at the cost of

human lives and human dig

J&K State Youth Policy

Documents

Transcript of J&K State Youth Policy