Onlykashmir Desk
Jammu and Kashmir’s Minister for Higher Education, Ms. Sakeena Itoo, has declared that the superannuation age for university professors will be extended based solely on merit and eligibility.
While this might aim to retain seasoned academics, it’s a perplexing decision in Jammu and Kashmir drowning in unemployment, especially among its youth. With a youth unemployment rate of 32% (PLFS, July-September 2024) and over 3.7 lakh jobless youth registered with the government as of March 2025, why prioritize prolonging careers over creating opportunities?
The latest figures are stark: urban unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir is 11.8%, the highest in India, with educated youth (15-29) facing a 34.8% jobless rate (ILO, 2022). The Directorate of Employment reported 1.09 lakh graduates and postgraduates unemployed in early 2024, a number likely higher now. Young people today bring digital skills, fresh perspectives, and adaptability—qualities that often outshine the experience of older professors in meeting modern educational demands. Yet, this policy risks clogging an already limited job pipeline.
Economic realities amplify the concern. The 2025 Economic Survey boasts a slight unemployment drop (6.7% to 6.1% from 2019-24) and a Labour Force Participation Rate of 64.3%. Still, these mask a reliance on agriculture and unpaid labor, not robust job growth. With a weak private sector and government jobs as the primary lifeline, extending superannuation delays vacancies that could employ the next generation. Merit and eligibility, as Itoo stresses, should apply equally to the jobless youth—34% of whom are educated and waiting—not just to aging professors.
This isn’t about disrespecting experience; it’s about fairness and foresight. In Jammu and Kashmir where unemployment has driven despair—78 suicides linked to joblessness between 2020-22 (MHA, 2023), the government must focus on opening doors, not extending tenures. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir deserve a shot at proving their worth, not watching opportunities deferred.
