Responding to concerns raised by Jammu and Kashmir National Conference MP Chowdhary Muhammad Ramzan over rising unemployment in the Union Territory, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Shobha Karandlaje said the Centre has launched multiple initiatives aimed at bringing youth into the employment mainstream.
Speaking during a parliamentary discussion, Karandlaje defended the government’s approach, stating that creating opportunities for young people in Jammu and Kashmir remains a key priority. “To save Kashmir and bring the young people to the forefront is our aim,” she said.
Sharing an anecdote to underline what she described as changing perceptions, the minister said that during a recent flight, a young woman from the region told her that it was the first time a Prime Minister was thinking specifically about the children of Jammu and Kashmir. She cited this as a reflection of the Centre’s renewed focus on youth welfare and employment in the UT under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Highlighting progress in formal sector inclusion, Karandlaje said around 1.60 lakh individuals from Jammu and Kashmir have enrolled with the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) over the past two years, expanding social security coverage and indicating increased formal employment participation.
The exchange took place amid broader debates in Parliament on unemployment during discussions related to the Union Budget. Opposition members have repeatedly criticised the government over job creation and pointed to regional disparities in employment growth.
Raising the issue, MP Muhammad Ramzan described unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir as a “striking issue” and warned that large-scale joblessness among educated youth is contributing to serious social consequences, including drug addiction.
“Unemployment leads the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to social evils like drugs,” Ramzan said, stressing that the crisis is not only economic but also social in nature. He urged the Centre to spell out concrete, targeted measures to generate jobs and prevent further deterioration.
Experts and several public representatives have linked persistent unemployment in the region to rising substance abuse, saying the trend threatens long-term social stability if not addressed through sustained job creation and youth engagement policies.
While the government has highlighted EPFO enrolment and welfare-linked employment measures, critics argue that Jammu and Kashmir requires stronger region-specific industrial, skill development, and entrepreneurship incentives to tackle the root causes of unemployment.
