The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Union Territory’s overall unemployment rate currently stands at 6.7 per cent, which is significantly higher than the national average of 3.5 per cent.
The information was shared in a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Mubarak Gul as per news agency, The government stated that as per the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), the unemployment rate among persons aged 15 years and above in J&K has shown fluctuations over the past few years, remaining consistently above the national average.
The House was further informed that a baseline survey was conducted across the Union Territory by the Employment Department in collaboration with the Union Territory Administration under Mission YUVA.
The survey identified 4.73 lakh individuals in the age group of 18–60 years, out of which around 46.8 per cent reported that they were “not working but willing to work”, highlighting the magnitude of employment challenges, particularly among the youth.
Replying to questions regarding steps taken to address unemployment, the government said that employment generation, especially among youth, remains a top priority. It clarified that the focus is not only on short-term job provisioning but on creating sustainable livelihoods by encouraging youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.
In this context, Mission YUVA was highlighted as a transformational initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship across Jammu and Kashmir. Since its launch, the mission has witnessed a strong response, with around 70,000 applications received on the YUVA platform, reflecting growing interest among youth in enterprise-led employment.
Out of these, Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for nearly 52,875 applicants have been prepared through Small Business Development Units (SBDUs). Following scrutiny by banks, about 47,816 applications were examined, of which 16,141 cases have already been sanctioned. The government said around 9,500 applications have been rejected, largely due to eligibility and credit-related issues, while the remaining cases are at various stages of completion.
The government further informed that sanctioned beneficiaries have been provided handholding support, training and mentoring. So far, more than 7,300 entrepreneurs have completed training, while several others are currently undergoing capacity-building programmes.
Employment Schemes and Roadmap
The Labour and Employment Department also shared year-wise details of beneficiaries covered under various self-employment and entrepreneurship schemes, including Mission YUVA, Mumkin, Tejaswini, Spurring Entrepreneurship Scheme and Women Entrepreneurship Programme, during the last two financial years.
The government reiterated that a comprehensive employment policy and roadmap titled “Mission YUVA: From Aspiration to Enterprise – Transforming Jammu & Kashmir’s Employment Landscape” has been formulated to reduce unemployment and strengthen youth engagement in productive economic activities.
The reply was tabled in the House by the Minister In-charge, Labour and Employment Department, who said the mission-based approach aims to ensure inclusive growth and long-term employment generation across the Union Territory. (KNC)