Hundreds of highly qualified youth leave Kashmir after 34 days of continuous uncertainty; Several get jobs in KSA, Indian states, others to face interviews
Srinagar, Sep 07 : A large number of youth have fled from Kashmir in the wake of uncertainty prevailing in Kashmir that has resulted in massive job cuts. Tentative figures collected from various sources by wire service—suggest that in the past fortnight, due to the highest level prevailing uncertainty, a huge chunk of youth decided to leave Kashmir and to settle down in various states of India and also foreign especially Middle Eastern countries.
“My son recently left for Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). He got a job there in a telecommunication company. He recently conveyed this news to me through a landline phone call,” Ali Muhammad Dar, a resident of Namblabal, Pampore told. Dar is chronic patient of kidney failure and his son Aijaz Ahmed was working in a private firm here that is shut since August 5.
“My son was the only source of living for the family of six. I have a handicapped daughter and my wife is not keeping well. I have three other children, but they are home sick due to the uncertainty since August 5,” he told. “
For Junaid Ahmed Reshi, a resident of Pantha Chowk, his business was running into losses. “I started my business related to selling Car accessories in 2017 by investing Rs five lakh into it. I was doing fine even though the profit was not that high,” he said. “Due to the continuous shutdown in Kashmir and I being the lone source of living for my family including my widow mother, I have decided to shut my business in Kashmir. I got in touch with my friend who is settled in Jeddah and I too am leaving for the same place where my job is almost done in a private firm.”
Another youth Bilal Ahmed, who has a degree in Bachelors in Science (BSC) along with a degree in computers was working at a private telecom service in Srinagar against the salary of Rs 15000 a month. As his Company remains shut for almost over a month now, Bilal, who has ailing parents and two little sisters, decided to leave Kashmir to find a suitable job to sustain his livelihood so that his family survives.
“I recently got a call letter (through a registered post) from a Pune based private company for an interview. And I am leaving on September 12 with a hope that I get a good job,” Bilal told wire services — amid a gentle smile on his face.
After speaking to cross section of youth in various localities of Kashmir including the capital city of Srinagar, news agency came to know that many youth are annoyed with the prolonged shutdown even though they are angry of “Centre’s unilateral decision of scrapping the Article 370” stating that Kashmir issue will remain alive till permanent solution as per the wishes of people. “We have families behind and have to manage things to keep our family members alive. Kashmir is full of uncertainty and chaos, it is time to survive for ourselves and for our families even though we stand for a dignified solution of Kashmir issue,” a group of youth told in a series of interactions in Srinagar and elsewhere.
Inputs from KNO
