Shabir Ahmad
Jammu and Kashmir’s youth have long carried the invisible wounds of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, economic uncertainty, and social disruption. Decades of trauma, lost educational and economic opportunities in the 1990s, rising substance abuse, and the pull of radicalization or unemployment have left many young people vulnerable.
Yet, amid these challenges, a powerful collaborative ecosystem is taking shape. The Indian Army’s Operation Sadbhavana, civil society organizations, and government institutions are working together on counselling, rehabilitation, skill development, and sustainable reintegration, offering a pathway from despair to dignity.
This is not just welfare. It is a strategic investment in peace and human capital. The results, though incremental, are tangible: thousands trained, educated, and employed; surrendered youth mainstreamed; and drug-affected young people finding hope through structured recovery and livelihood support.
Launched in 1998, Operation Sadbhavana (Goodwill) marked a shift for the Indian Army in J&K, from purely kinetic operations to a comprehensive “hearts and minds” approach. With over ₹5.5 billion invested in people-centric development since its inception, the initiative has focused on education, health, infrastructure, women’s empowerment, youth engagement, and skill development in remote and terror-affected areas.
Central to this effort are the Army Goodwill Schools (AGS), 46 modern institutions providing quality education to marginalized and conflict-affected children. Over 14,000 students have benefited, with many gaining admission to premier institutes outside the Union Territory. These schools filled critical gaps when insurgents destroyed or damaged thousands of government schools in the 1990s.
Beyond classrooms, the Army has established over 80 Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) offering practical skills in computer literacy, tailoring, knitting, candle and bag making, horticulture, fashion design, and more. Youth Guidance Employment Nodes (YGENs) provide career counselling, awareness of job opportunities, and training in trades such as mechanics, poultry farming, animal husbandry, and tourism, equipping youth for both government and private-sector roles.
Coaching programmes have delivered standout results. Initiatives such as “Kashmir Super 30” (in partnership with civil society organizations) and “Super 50” for NEET and other competitive examinations have helped underprivileged students crack JEE and medical entrance tests, with several securing seats in IITs and other top institutions.
Sports serve as a powerful rehabilitative tool. The Army has set up over 100 Khelo India Centres and organizes events that channel youthful energy constructively while fostering discipline and teamwork.
Civil society organizations act as a vital bridge between institutions and communities, where deep-seated trust deficits often exist. NGOs, religious leaders, community-based groups, and youth clubs play indispensable roles in awareness campaigns, motivational and psychological counselling, family support, and post-rehabilitation monitoring.
A standout example is the J&K Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (JKSPYM), a pioneering NGO established in 1990. It runs de-addiction services and harm-reduction programmes and has treated over 6,000 clients since setting up J&K’s first de-addiction centre in Jammu in 1992. Staff trained by UNODC, WHO, and national agencies deliver evidence-based counselling and rehabilitation.
Under the Nasha Mukt Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan, civil society collaborates with government agencies and communities for large-scale awareness campaigns, identifying at-risk youth and supporting long-term recovery. Religious leaders and panchayat-level groups provide culturally resonant counselling against substance abuse and radicalization.
For surrendered or radicalized youth, civil society’s role in social reintegration is irreplaceable, facilitating family reconciliation, community acceptance, mentoring, and stigma reduction. These organizations often partner with the Army and the administration for grassroots implementation of deradicalization and aftercare programmes.
The J&K administration has institutionalized rehabilitation through targeted policies and schemes. The Rehabilitation Policy offers financial incentives, including stipends and fixed deposits, free vocational training, self-employment support, and educational assistance for children, encouraging a return to the mainstream, including for youth who crossed borders but committed no heinous offences.
On the drug front, a proposed holistic framework emphasizes not just treatment but also rehabilitation, skill training, livelihood support, and social reintegration. The administration plans dedicated rehabilitation centres across the Union Territory. Through the National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction, voluntary organizations receive up to 95% funding, with higher support for J&K, to run Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs), counselling services, and awareness camps.
Mission Youth (YUVA) stands out as a flagship empowerment programme. It has created thousands of Youth Clubs and rolled out schemes for entrepreneurship and self-employment, including assistance for commercial vehicles under “Mumkin”, and skill-linked livelihood initiatives. Significant funds, over ₹209 crore in recent releases, have been deployed to provide vulnerable youth with sustainable economic opportunities.
Beneficiaries speak of transformation: young women from remote villages gaining computer skills and confidence; former stone-pelters and at-risk youth discovering purpose through sports and vocational courses; surrendered individuals receiving training and starting small enterprises; and drug-affected youth completing rehabilitation and rejoining their families with renewed dignity.
While challenges remain, including scaling programmes to match the extent of drug abuse, addressing lingering stigma, ensuring long-term funding, and sustaining coordination, the overall trajectory is positive. Declining militancy-related incidents in many areas, rising surrenders, and growing youth participation in constructive activities signal hope.
Officials and activists emphasize that success depends on a whole-of-society approach. The Army brings discipline, resources, and outreach capacity. Civil society brings trust and cultural sensitivity. Institutions provide policy support, funding, and systemic scale. Together, they are not merely rehabilitating individuals. They are rebuilding the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.
