Highlights urgent reforms needed to address unemployment, industry mismatch, industry-private sector collaboration
SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) participated in the two-day conference on “Transforming Skilling Ecosystem in Jammu & Kashmir” organised by the Department of Skill Development, Government of Jammu & Kashmir. Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi represented KCCI at this crucial deliberation on the future of skill development in the region.
The conference was graced by senior government officials, including Chief Secretary Mr. Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner (Additional Chief Secretary) Tourism, Principal Secretary Finance Mr. Santosh Vaidya, Secretary Skill Development Department Mr. Rajeev Ranjan, and Director Skill Development Mr. Shahzad Alam.
The conference was organised to brainstorm the development challenges and critical issues facing skill development in the region, particularly focusing on the misalignment between training programs and industry demands, low placement outcomes, limited career progression pathways, and fragmented governance across departments.
During the deliberations, various successful as well as stressed models of skill development were discussed. The conference emphasised how the Government of Jammu & Kashmir aims to align with the Government of India’s Rs. 2 lakh crore budgetary package targeting 4.1 crore youth over the next five years.
Chief Secretary Mr. Atal Dulloo delivered the keynote address, while Secretary Skill Development Department Mr. Rajeev Ranjan made a detailed presentation on the “Current State of Skilling in Jammu and Kashmir” and the “Skilling for All” Roadmap in Jammu & Kashmir.
Speaking as a panellist, KCCI Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi raised several critical concerns about the current state of skill development in the region. He highlighted the alarming unemployment figure of 32.8% in the age group of 15-29 years in Jammu & Kashmir as per the Ministry of Statisics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) report, which requires focused attention at a time when the country is aiming to achieve a $5 trillion economy.
Secretary General KCCI emphasised that skill education and training at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) is outdated and far behind contemporary requirements. The curriculum needs to be updated to meet the future needs of global markets and bridge the widening gap between training and industry expectations.
Bakshi stressed the urgent need to address the significant disconnect between what training institutions are teaching and what industries actually require, noting that this mismatch is contributing to the high unemployment rates despite available training programs.
The chamber advocated for a shift toward market-oriented skill development that aligns with both national economic goals and global industry standards, emphasising that training programs must be designed keeping in mind the evolving needs of sectors like technology, tourism, handicrafts, and emerging industries.
KCCI highlighted concerns about the quality of training programs, noting that simply increasing the number of training centres without improving content quality would not address the unemployment crisis effectively.
KCCI called for greater involvement of private sector organisations in designing and delivering skill development programs to ensure industry-relevant training and better placement outcomes. The chamber also emphasised the need for clear career progression pathways for skilled workers, ensuring that training leads to sustainable employment opportunities rather than temporary placements.
The KCCI Secretary General emphasised the significant potential for employment generation through the development of district clusters integrated with skill development centres.
He noted that handicrafts and other local cottage industries rely heavily on traditional skills passed down at home, which now require upgrading in line with current market demands. Similarly, he stressed the importance of strengthening Tourism Development Authorities to harness the growing tourism sector, which can create substantial job opportunities if supported by targeted skill training. Highlighting innovation in Jamawar designing and value-added products as another promising avenue, he called for better coordination among government departments to formulate robust policies and ensure their swift implementation.
The conference witnessed significant participation from distinguished delegates, including Joint Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr. Govind Jaiswal, representatives from NABARD, SIDBI, TISS, various industry leaders, hospitality sector representatives, Vice Chancellors including VC Kashmir University, CII (National Body), Maruti Suzuki, Lalit Group, Wheebox India, JK Bank, Tata Group, FICCI, JK Cements, Tech Mahindra, NSDC, NITI Aayog, and FCIK.