Unemployment in India has become one of the most pressing and painful challenges of our time. While the situation is grim across the country, it is even more alarming in Jammu and Kashmir, where the unemployment rate is soaring to unprecedented levels. Here, thousands of educated youth are struggling to find a foothold in life. Government jobs are few and far between, private sector opportunities are limited, and now even self-employment avenues are slipping away — not because of lack of will or skill, but due to administrative negligence.
Today’s youth want to stand on their own feet. They want to start small businesses, become self-reliant, and contribute to the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India). Many of them look to the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) for assistance — a flagship scheme that offers financial support to budding entrepreneurs. But for over three months, the PMEGP online portal has been non-functional due to “maintenance,” effectively halting the entire scheme.
This is not just a technical issue — it is a matter of lives, livelihoods, and lost time. The website only displays a terse notice saying that a new, revamped portal is under development. But why is it taking months to fix a website that is central to a nationwide employment initiative? Why has there been no alternative system put in place? No offline applications, no interim arrangement — just silence.
Every day that the portal remains down, countless young people lose precious time. Some have even crossed the age limit to apply for these schemes during this period. It is heartbreaking to imagine how many could have started their own ventures, how many dreams could have taken flight, had the system simply worked.
Adding insult to injury, the BJP-led central government is currently celebrating 11 years of its governance, touting its achievements across the country through events and media campaigns. But amidst all the praise and pomp, youth unemployment is being blatantly ignored. There is a visible disconnect between the government’s messaging and the ground reality.
This glaring negligence is unacceptable. When governments promise self-reliance and empowerment, they must also ensure that the tools and systems to realize those goals are functional and accessible. A delay of three months in such a critical platform reflects not only poor governance but also a lack of commitment towards the future of India’s youth.
The government must take immediate steps to restore the PMEGP portal without further delay. In the meantime, offline applications should be accepted and processed. Moreover, for those who have crossed the age threshold due to this delay, age relaxation must be granted.
A progressive nation cannot afford to stifle the ambitions of its youth. Speeches and slogans will not create jobs. Only decisive, timely, and inclusive action will. It’s time the government matched its promises with performance — the youth deserve nothing less.DD
