An Exclusive Interview with JKBC President Mohammad Altaf Dar
In a candid and compelling dialogue, Mohammad Altaf Dar, President of the Jammu and Kashmir Business Confederation (JKBC), lays bare the deepening economic crisis gripping the Union Territory. A veteran trade leader and socio-political advocate, Dar offers a piercing analysis of the unemployment scourge and proposes bold, actionable solutions to steer Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) toward recovery. His words resonate with urgency, reflecting the aspirations and anxieties of a region teetering on the edge.
Q1: Mr. Dar, how would you characterize the unemployment crisis in Jammu and Kashmir today?
*Ans:* The unemployment situation in Jammu and Kashmir is nothing short of a catastrophe. Official data paints a grim picture: J&K’s unemployment rate, hovering around 24% as per recent CMIE reports, is among the highest in India. Behind these numbers lie stories of despair—thousands of graduates, postgraduates, and skilled professionals languish without opportunities. Take, for instance, Aijaz Ahmad, a 28-year-old engineering graduate from Srinagar, who has applied to over 200 jobs in three years, only to face rejection or silence. The private sector is too frail to absorb this talent, and public sector hiring is bogged down by delays and red tape. This brewing frustration among our youth is a ticking time bomb.
Q2: What are the root causes fueling this crisis?
Ans:The crisis is a tangle of systemic failures. Decades of political instability and security challenges have scared off investors, stifling industrial growth. For example, the once-promising industrial estate in Lassipora, Pulwama, lies underutilized, with barely 30% of its units operational due to poor infrastructure and bureaucratic hurdles. Public sector recruitment, meanwhile, is glacial—take the 2019 JKPSC recruitment drive, where thousands of posts remain unfilled six years later. Add to this the specter of corruption and favoritism, which erodes trust in institutions. The lack of a robust economic ecosystem—coupled with neglected sectors like agriculture and handicrafts—has left J&K in a state of economic paralysis.
Q3: Has the administration taken meaningful steps to address these challenges?
Ans: The government’s efforts, while well-publicized, have largely been cosmetic. Grand announcements—like the 2023 promise to create 50,000 jobs—often fizzle out due to poor execution. For instance, the much-touted “Mission Youth” initiative aimed to empower young entrepreneurs, but many beneficiaries, like Shopian’s Nida Farooq, report delays in funding and lack of mentorship, rendering the program ineffective. Policies lack continuity, and there’s a glaring disconnect between policymakers and the ground reality. What J&K needs is not rhetoric but resolute action—targeted, transparent, and time-bound.
Q4: Are local businesses also on the brink of collapse, as some reports suggest?
Ans: Absolutely, the economic fabric of J&K is fraying. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which employ nearly 60% of the region’s workforce, are suffocating under debt, limited credit access, and crumbling infrastructure. Take the case of Kashmir’s famed carpet-weaving industry: artisans like Ghulam Nabi from Anantnag struggle to compete with machine-made imports due to lack of market support. Tourism, a lifeline for J&K, has been battered by intermittent lockdowns and negative perceptions—hotel occupancy in Gulmarg dipped to 15% in 2024, per industry estimates. Agriculture, too, is in distress, with apple growers facing plummeting prices due to unregulated markets. Without a tailored economic bailout, many businesses face imminent collapse.
Q5: What specific measures do you propose to tackle unemployment and revive the economy?
Ans: The path forward demands both immediate action and long-term vision. Here are six actionable steps:
1. Streamline Public Hiring: Clear the backlog of over 20,000 vacant government posts with transparent, merit-based recruitment drives within 12 months.
2. Empower Startups: Create a ₹500-crore venture fund to provide seed capital, incubators, and mentorship for young entrepreneurs, modeled on successful programs like Gujarat’s iCreate.
3. Revive Industry: Develop fully equipped industrial zones in districts like Baramulla and Kathua, offering five-year tax holidays and subsidized power to lure investors.
4. Skill the Youth: Launch industry-aligned skilling programs—think IT, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing—in partnership with firms like Infosys or Tata, ensuring 80% job placement.
5. Reboot Tourism and Handicrafts: Promote J&K as a global destination through international campaigns and protect artisans by securing GI tags for products like Pashmina and Kani shawls.
6. Ease Business Barriers: Slash bureaucratic red tape by digitizing licensing and ensuring banks disburse ₹1,000 crore in soft loans to SMEs within two years.
These steps, if executed with precision, could create a million jobs in five years.
Q6: How can the JKBC and similar organizations contribute to this revival?
Ans: The JKBC is more than a trade body; it’s a voice for J&K’s economic aspirations. We’ve organized protests, like the 2024 Srinagar rally for SME relief, and submitted policy papers to the Lieutenant Governor’s office. But our impact hinges on being true partners in governance. For instance, when Tamil Nadu’s government collaborated with industry bodies to draft its 2021 industrial policy, it attracted ₹2 lakh crore in investments. J&K needs similar collaboration—include us in policy roundtables, and we’ll bridge the gap between intent and impact.
Q7: What is your message to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir?
Ans: To the youth, I say: Your struggles are seen, and your anger is valid. But despair is not the answer. Look at innovators like Srinagar’s Rouf Bhat, who built a solar-powered boat despite limited resources, or Anantnag’s Sehrish Asgar, whose organic food startup employs 20 women. Channel your energy into learning, creating, and demanding accountability. Unite, organize, and participate—whether through entrepreneurship or civic action. You are J&K’s future, and your courage will reshape this land.
Note:
Peerzada Masarat Shah is a senior journalist covering socio-economic issues in Jammu and Kashmir.
