Empowering Kashmir’s Border Villages as Skilled Services Hubs
Mir Shabir
Kashmir’s border villages, nestled in the rugged terrains of Kupwara and Bandipora, have long been sidelined—geographically isolated, politically sensitive, and economically neglected. For decades, these regions have grappled with limited access to basic services and opportunities, leaving communities dependent on distant urban centers. Youth in these villages, despite participating in government-backed skill development programs like the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY), often find their training in trades such as plumbing, carpentry, masonry, and wood carving insufficient to secure sustainable livelihoods. According to a 2023 report by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, over 60% of trained youth in Jammu and Kashmir remain underemployed or revert to unskilled labor due to systemic barriers: lack of capital for tools, limited market access, and no entrepreneurial ecosystem. This gap has perpetuated a cycle of exclusion, where skilled services—vital for daily life—remain scarce, delayed, or unaffordable, deepening the isolation of these border communities.
The structural challenges are stark. A 2022 survey by the TYCIA Foundation in Kupwara revealed that 78% of households waited an average of 10-15 days for basic repairs like fixing a leaking pipe or repairing a wall, often because local service providers lacked professional equipment or were employed elsewhere under contractors. Skilled youth, meanwhile, faced their own hurdles. For instance, Mohammad Aslam, a 24-year-old trained carpenter from Kupwara’s Keran village, earned just ₹4,500 a month working under a contractor in Srinagar, unable to afford his own tools or access local clients directly. Many like him either migrated to cities for low-wage jobs or abandoned their skills entirely, with 65% of trained youth in Bandipora reporting underutilization of their skills due to resource constraints, per a 2024 TYCIA study.
Enter Project Jazba, a transformative initiative by the TYCIA Foundation, in collaboration with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), the Indian Army, and local administration. Launched in 2023, the project aimed to bridge this gap by turning skilled workers into independent entrepreneurs. Through extensive community consultations in Kupwara and Bandipora, a clear demand emerged: reliable, local access to skilled services. Families highlighted the frustration of prolonged delays for repairs, while youth expressed a desire for autonomy and a platform to connect directly with clients. Some even envisioned a digital marketplace for services—an idea initially dismissed as unfeasible in these remote areas.
Project Jazba’s solution was both simple and revolutionary: equip skilled workers with the tools of their trade. Over 200 youth across 15 villages received industry-grade toolkits tailored to their skills—carpenters got advanced saws and chisels, plumbers received professional pipe-cutting machines, and masons and painters were provided with high-quality equipment. For individuals like Aisha Bano, a 27-year-old painter from Bandipora’s Gurez valley, owning her own toolkit meant no longer borrowing outdated tools or relying on intermediaries. She could now take direct orders from households and local schools, completing jobs in hours instead of days.
The impact was immediate and measurable. A 2025 TYCIA impact assessment found that repair times dropped by 70%, with tasks like plumbing fixes now completed in under 24 hours compared to a week previously. Economically, the transformation was profound. Service providers, previously earning ₹4,000-₹6,000 monthly under contractors, saw their incomes soar to ₹25,000-₹35,000 per month as independent entrepreneurs. For example, Bilal Ahmad, a mason from Kupwara’s Tangdhar, secured contracts with local government offices, earning ₹32,000 in a single month in 2025—a sixfold increase from his prior earnings. Across the region, 85% of Project Jazba participants reported consistent local demand, with schools, health centers, and even Army outposts hiring them for regular maintenance.
Beyond economics, the initiative reshaped identities. Skilled workers, long marginalized in policy and markets, emerged as recognized entrepreneurs. The project’s ripple effects extended to community pride and self-reliance. Villages that once depended on distant service providers now had local talent meeting their needs. Encouraged by this success, participants are now developing a collective platform, tentatively called “Kashmir One-Stop Services,” with plans for a digital portal by mid-2026. This platform will allow households to book carpenters, plumbers, and painters seamlessly, integrating mobile apps and local call centers to ensure accessibility even in low-connectivity areas. A pilot in three villages showed a 40% increase in service bookings within two months, signaling strong community adoption.
Project Jazba’s model challenges the status quo of skill development by addressing structural gaps—tools, market access, and entrepreneurial support. It demonstrates that skills alone are insufficient; ecosystems that empower individuals to deploy them are critical. With over 500 youth trained and equipped by early 2025, and plans to expand to Baramulla and Poonch, this initiative is redefining border economies. It offers a blueprint for rural innovation, proving that even the most marginalized communities can build sustainable, skill-based livelihoods when given the right tools and opportunities.
