Harnessing Youth Potential in Digital Transformation, Advancing Rural Skill Development through Government Initiatives in Kashmir

India, home to the world's largest youth population, is poised for a digital transformation. With digital transformation moving through economies and societies at a blistering pace, it is important that young people are empowered, particularly in rural areas, for sustainable and inclusive development. It is nowhere more truely than in Jammu and Kashmir where government-supported programs are unfolding new avenues for youth to shift from their traditional roles to becoming talented professionals, entrepreneurs, and digital entrepreneurs.

- BASIRHAT GUL

In the past, the youth of Kashmir had scant exposure to contemporary education, facilities, or careers based on technology. Options for work were typically limited to agriculture, government services, or crafts native to the area. Combined with political uncertainty, weak connectivity, and economic dislocation, the region was disconnected further from narratives of national development. Although there have been central government initiatives such as TRYSEM and SGSY in the past aimed at curbing unemployment, they were not integrated with digital competencies or industry interfaces.

The catalyst was the initiation of Digital India in 2015. This ambitious country mission was focused on establishing a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. It extended digital services and infrastructure to the rural sector through schemes such as Bharat Net and Common Services Centres (CSCs). CSCs have now become lifelines in Kashmir that offer youth opportunities for online education, government schemes, digital banking, and entrepreneurship guidance. Many villages in Baramulla, Budgam, Shopian, Anantnag and Kupwara now have CSCs offering services from document registration to online skill training.

Simultaneously, the Skill India Mission, also launched in 2015, started to address the challenge of unemployment by imparting industry-relevant training. Programs like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) were rolled out to the rural areas, covering short-term training in occupations like IT, hospitality, retail, and construction. One of the most important schemes rolled out for Jammu and Kashmir was the Himayat Scheme that catered to placement-linked training exclusively for the youth who were unemployed in the state. Thousands of youth have been benefitted by it, getting trained and placed in jobs all over the nation.