KCCI Flags Urgent Skill Gap at Jammu Kashmir Skilling Conference

SRINAGAR: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has raised strong concerns over outdated curricula, poor placement outcomes, and industry-training disconnects during a major two-day conference on “Transforming Skilling Ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir” organised by the UT’s Department of Skill Development.

Represented by its Secretary General Faiz Ahmad Bakshi, KCCI said the current skill development infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir was ill-equipped to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global market and was contributing to the region’s alarming unemployment rate—32.8 per cent in the 15–29 age group, as reported by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

“The ITI curriculum is outdated and fails to meet contemporary industry needs. We are training for the past while the future is running ahead of us,” Bakshi said, warning that the mismatch between training and real-world job demands was one of the root causes of persistent youth unemployment.

He called for a shift to a market-oriented skilling model that involves the private sector in curriculum design, implementation, and assessment. “You cannot solve unemployment by just adding more training centres. The focus must be on quality, industry relevance, and sustainable job pathways,” he asserted.

Bakshi also called for strengthening local clusters, particularly in handicrafts and tourism, and integrating them with skill development centres. He pointed to the immense untapped potential in sectors like Jamawar designing, value-added traditional products, and adventure tourism. “Local industries are sitting on traditional skill wealth, but unless upgraded and aligned with current markets, that potential will go to waste,” he said.

The conference, attended by top policymakers and industry leaders, was held to address structural gaps in the skilling ecosystem and identify strategies to align Jammu and Kashmir’s training frameworks with the national goal of skilling 4.1 crore youth under a Rs 2 lakh crore mission.

Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo delivered the keynote address, while Secretary Skill Development Rajeev Ranjan presented a detailed roadmap titled “Skilling for All”, outlining the current state and future targets for J&K. Other prominent officials in attendance included Financial Commissioner (ACS) Tourism, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh Vaidya, and Director Skill Development Shahzad Alam.

The deliberations addressed gaps such as poor alignment between training and industry needs, low career progression for skilled youth, and fragmented governance across departments. Bakshi’s address emphasised the need for better coordination, more industry input, and outcome-focused planning.

Distinguished delegates at the conference included representatives from the Ministry of Education, NITI Aayog, NSDC, Tata Group, Maruti Suzuki, Tech Mahindra, JK Bank, FICCI, SIDBI, NABARD, CII, TISS, Kashmir University, and the hospitality industry.

The KCCI concluded by urging the government to ensure robust policy implementation backed by clear placement metrics, cluster development, and integration of traditional industries into the formal skilling ecosystem.