Skill development education stands as a beacon of hope for the youth in Kashmir, offering a pathway to knowledge, expertise, and career growth. In an era where the demand for skilled professionals is escalating globally, it becomes paramount for the youth to equip themselves with the right skills to navigate the evolving job market.
The significance of skill development education transcends individual career growth; it is a linchpin for a nation’s economic prosperity. In the case of Kashmir, grappling with unique challenges stemming from political and economic instability, skill development emerges as a catalyst for mitigating high unemployment and underemployment levels.
In Kashmir, learning practical skills is super important for a few big reasons.
Firstly, it helps create more job options beyond just farming. People can get skilled in things like tourism, crafts, healthcare, and tech, opening up more work opportunities.
Also, learning these skills can turn talented artists into business owners. Teaching them about selling, branding, and making products can help them create jobs and boost the economy.
In a place where some groups face more challenges, skill training levels the playing field. It gives everyone a fair shot at success, making the whole society more equal.
With new jobs popping up in areas like technology and tourism, learning these skills becomes crucial. It makes sure that the younger generation is ready for the kinds of jobs that are in demand today.
Moreover, Kashmir’s beautiful landscapes have a lot of potential for growth. Learning practical skills can help the region grow in areas like tourism, farming, and crafts, making life better for everyone there.
Despite commendable government schemes like DDUGKY, PMKVY, SAMVAY, and NSD, challenges persist on the ground. A lack of awareness among the youth about the benefits of training courses remains a stumbling block, reflected in the disparity in institute distribution and the absence of training in cutting-edge fields like IT.
The numbers speak volumes—Kashmir, despite 135 institutes, grapples with high unemployment rates. It’s time to scrutinize the effectiveness of these programs. Are skill institutes failing to raise awareness, or is the issue deeper, lying in the quality of training provided?
The solution lies not only in improving existing schemes but also in introducing Training of Trainers (ToT) programs for government employees, especially teachers in higher secondary schools. Creating awareness at the school level can be transformative, ensuring that students, even those not pursuing higher education, are informed about available training courses.
The era of relying solely on government jobs needs to evolve. As responsible citizens of Kashmir, it is our duty to disseminate information about these schemes. The recent announcement by the JK government to skill 80,000 youth is a golden opportunity. It’s incumbent upon us to share this information widely and leverage this initiative for the holistic growth and development of Kashmir.
( Author has completed Postgraduation in Microbiology)
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