Poor enterprise culture and unemployment situation inKashmir is now a major driver of poverty and social vices. The unemploymentsituation has assumed a multi-dimensional phenomenon cutting across all facetsof age group, educational strata and geographies. More disturbing today is theever rising trend of youth unemployment. Many people are unemployed becausethey have not acquired the kind of skills that are frequently demanded in theenvironment they operate. Youth, including University graduates, products ofpolytechnics and colleges, are roaming the streets looking for paid employmentsthat are non-existent. Although, several attempts have been made at encouragingentrepreneurial activities in state in last few years but the realentrepreneurs have not emerged. It is therefore not surprising that onlyminimal success has been recorded. The truth is that they did not have asignificant, lasting and sustainable positive effect. Entrepreneurship can be amodel for youth empowerment. In transitioning to employment throughentrepreneurial education the overall goal of entrepreneurial education is toimpart our students with the right attitudes, knowledge and skills to act in anentrepreneurial way. Thus empowering and preparing them to thrive in theunstructured and uncertain nature of today’s environment.
The socio-economic situation in Kashmir poses seriousthreats and challenges to both government and wellbeing of citizens as a whole.Entrepreneurship education provides students motivation, knowledge, and skillsessential for launching a successful venture. It should be available to allcollege students regardless of major courses and choice of studies to enhancecompetitive advantage.
Kashmir in many respects has problems of isolation, and lackof an industrial base and employment opportunities. However, the state isvested with a substantial water resource, mineral base, and is famous the worldover for its exquisite handicrafts, handloom products, tourism, horticultureproduce and cottage industry. While the state has enormous potential for theflourishing of various industries, it has lagged behind in the field ofindustrialization. The public sector units have generally failed to perform andthe private sector has not flourished. Although the state has made sustainedefforts, based on its industrial potential, to develop industry and elevate itseconomic standard, it has still to go a long way to find a place in theindustrial map. Therefore, it is imperative to identify and exploit theproductive capabilities of the different regions of the state to trigger offthe growth impulses, thereby facilitating the process of economic take-off. Forpromoting prosperity and ensuring equitable economic development throughout thestate, the state government should encourage the flow of investments in areaswith high employment potential
At enabling enterprise, I believe entrepreneurship canprovide a space for young people to stand up and take ownership over the ideas,talents and skills, which will guide them in their next steps. By setting upand running their own projects. With the potential for real and meaningfulimpact, young people have the opportunity to take the lead and come up withcreative solutions to the problems which matter to them. All we do is set thechallenge and provide a structure to help guide them the young people createthe opportunities. Entrepreneurship is more than an activity it is also anapproach by empowering young people to harness to their own resources.Entrepreneurship can provide a fruitful model for practitioners seeking tosupport young people in their transitions to employment throughentrepreneurship. In a climate like Kashmir where many young people feelaffected by circumstances beyond their control, encouraging participation,skills development and youth leadership, we can be confident that young peoplewill take the future back into their own hands