Degrees, dreams, despair: Unemployed youth left without stipend

Srinagar, Aug 24: Every morning, Mohammad Amir scrolls through job portals and newspapers, hoping to find a vacancy that might finally change his life. The 32-year-old engineering graduate has followed this routine since he completed his degree in 2015, but almost a decade later, his search remains fruitless.

Amir has applied to dozens of government departments—from  engineering services to finance and the police—paying  hundreds of rupees for each application. The accumulated fees now run into thousands, a heavy burden for someone without any source of income.

“It feels humiliating to ask my parents for pocket money at this age. I had dreams when I graduated, but now it’s just about survival.”, Amir said.

His experience reflects the struggles of thousands of educated young men and women across Jammu and Kashmir, where no government unemployment allowance or stipend exists to support jobseekers.

Unlike several states that provide temporary financial support to educated youth while they seek employment, Jammu and Kashmir has no such scheme.

“Not everyone expects a government job, but we at least expect some financial support while we keep applying and preparing,” said Irshad Ahmad Bhat, a postgraduate from Shopian who has been unemployed for 12 years. “Even a modest stipend would help us buy books or pay application fees.”

A few months ago, a video went viral showing an unemployed Ph.D. holder from the area, selling merchandise from a roadside cart. The footage struck a chord across social media, highlighting the stark realities of unemployment even among the highly educated.

In November 2024, the Periodic Labour Force Survey reported that Jammu and Kashmir recorded the highest unemployment rates in India – 32% among youth and 53.6% among women. Official data shows 370,811 unemployed youth registered with the government, with 213,007 in Kashmir and 157,804 in Jammu.

Analysts say the figures highlight a deep structural crisis in the region’s economy. “J&K lacks a vibrant private sector, and government recruitment has shrunk significantly in recent years,” said a Srinagar-based economist, requesting anonymity. “This leaves educated youth with very few avenues, and without unemployment benefits, the pressure is mounting.”

In 2010–11, the J&K government briefly provided a Voluntary Service Allowance (VSA) for unemployed youth with a matriculation qualification or higher. The scheme, which ran for three years, aimed to provide financial support to educated jobseekers. Official data shows Rs 9.39 crore was disbursed to 24,724 beneficiaries in the first year, rising to Rs 18.83 crore for 34,474 beneficiaries in 2011–12.

Growing frustration

Jobless youth say the lack of stipends forces them to spend money repeatedly on applications, exams, and travel for interviews.

“Each time a vacancy is announced, youth spend thousands on forms, coaching, and travel, only to face delays or cancellations,” said Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh, secretary of the J&K Youth Federation. “If the government cannot provide jobs, the least it can do is offer a monthly allowance.”

Sheikh added that the employment crisis   has resulted in mental health issues among youth.

“It’s not just financial stress, it is psychological too. You start questioning your worth”, he said.

Government stance

The government has made clear  that it has no plans to reintroduce unemployment stipends. During the last Assembly session,  in a written reply to MLA Samba Devinder Kumar Manyal, Labour and Employment Minister Surinder Choudhary told the Assembly that the Union Territory currently has no plans to provide financial support to unemployed youth.

For Amir and thousands like him, the absence of a stipend adds to the uncertainty of a job market already struggling to absorb the educated youth.