Too Educated to Work

Years of schooling are supposed to open doors. But in Jammu & Kashmir, higher education is now keeping many women and youth out of jobs, exposing flaws in the recruitment system.

- Sabiya Nabi

Jammu and Kashmir is facing a growing problem of educated unemployment, especially among women.

People are encouraged to study, with the promise that education will bring opportunity and financial security.

But current job rules are turning higher education into a disadvantage instead of an advantage.

A clear example is the hiring of Anganwadi Helpers.

These positions are meant to provide basic work and support at the local level. However, candidates with higher qualifications, like graduation or post-graduation, are automatically disqualified.

Many educated women, willing to work and with no other sources of income, cannot even apply.

This issue became worse because the academic merit system has been disrupted in recent years.