The abrogation of Article 370 and 35 (A) is proving momentous for the economic growth of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian government along with the corporate world is increasingly looking forward to Kashmir as the next investment hub with an enormous potential for growth, expansion, and investment returns.
The good thing about investments is that they also refer to career opportunities. From infrastructural development to education and retail, Kashmir is likely to offer many diverse career opportunities for its youth. Let’s look at five such modern career opportunities in the backdrop of the proposed investments.
5 Modern Career Opportunities for J&K Youth
1. Infrastructure – Civil Engineering
The Indian government has been heavily investing in Jammu and Kashmir to foster infrastructural developments across the region. It includes building roads, tunnels, railway bridges, railway routes, etc. in regions, which were once ignored or deprived of development owing to their inaccessibility. With other projects in the pipeline, Kashmir may require many local civil engineers, well-versed with the local condition, terrain and situation to guide and plan large-scale and small-scale infrastructural development across the valley.
You may want to take a look at the Infrastructure Development in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370.
2. Retail and E-commerce
The ever-growing retail and e-commerce sector is another realm of career opportunities for the Kashmiri youth. One of the most significant examples in this regard is the UAE-based retail giant Lulu investing INR 200 crore to set up a food processing and logistics hub in Kashmir.
Additionally, the company has earmarked another INR 200 crore for further expansion. The project will not only generate employment but benefit farmers and the agriculture sector as well.
Source – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/uae-based-lulu-group-to-invest-200-cr-in-jammu-and-kashmir-to-set-up-food-processing-logistic-hub/article38149459.ece
3. Information Technology
According to an article published in The Week, 40 companies including Tata and Reliance have expressed interest in investment in Jammu and Kashmir in various sectors, which includes information technology. Investments across the IT sector will help generate thousands of jobs. Should these prospective investments turn into reality, they’ll generate enormous career opportunities across the IT and its allied sectors.
Source – https://www.theweek.in/news/biz-tech/2021/08/05/after-article-370-removal-how-much-development-has-happened-in-jk.html
4. Education and Skill Development
Doing justice to these massive investments will demand a significant improvement in the existing standards of education and require numerous skill development centers to prepare the youth for the challenges and opportunities ahead.
But that also signifies a separate career stream. Qualified people with a flair for teaching can partner with potential investors to start skill development centers that aim to hone the skills of youth across various sectors such as technology, commerce, and arts.
5. Hospitality and Tourism
Kashmir has always been a prominent tourist attraction of India. However, the sector hasn’t been able to flourish and grow to its potential on account of the perpetual terror threats and attacks. But ever since the abrogation of Article 370, Kashmir has witnessed a steep decline in terror attacks. Although 2019 and 2020 might not have been the best years of tourism for Kashmir, with the pandemic’s impact gradually subsiding and the security situation improving, the region may see tourism numbers steadily rising.
This growth of tourism in the long run can refer to the creation of employment and numerous job opportunities for the Kashmiri youth. Nevertheless, this is something that only time will be able to tell.
Other potential sectors include horticulture, dairy farming, the restaurant business, logistics (courier service), etc. Whether self-employment or job, this is something for the youth to choose based on its preferences, financial muscle and skills. But with these proposed investments and heavy infrastructural development, Kashmiri youth may not fall short of career opportunities in the future.
