According to the latest report about unemployment in the country, Jammu and Kashmir is on the top of the list with a 21 percent unemployment rate, a record rate of unemployment after converting the state into two union territories. Though this is an official figure even the condition of the youth in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir is itself a witness to the above mentioned condition in the field of employment. This ratio of unemployment perhaps does not include the number of those associated with an organized sector known as Art & Culture. Prior to 2014 about one lakh artists of different age groups were working with DD KASHIR, DD Srinagar, DD Jammu, J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Language and Radio Kashmir Jammu/Srinagar as casual and assignee artists. Most of the artists were registered with DD KASHIR as Producer/Director and were projecting and promoting the regional language and culture through various audio-visual productions. Besides these Producer/Directors and artists were also countering the false and malicious propaganda of Pakistan against India by making relevant audio-visual programs which were telecast by DD KASHIR, DD Srinagar, DD Jammu and Radio Kashmir Jammu/Srinagar. But since all these programs and platforms of the artists came to close suddenly making more than one lakh artists jobless at one stroke. These one lakh artists were providing two time meals not only to their families but lakhs of other families indirectly. As several non-artists are also engaged for the production of audio-visual programs like caterer (shopkeepers of local market), transport personnel (drivers and helpers), local youth to assist the technical crew. Why the government is still ignoring the artist and art sector is not known to any of the artists. But this decision of the government has made thousands of artists jobless and put them on the verge of starvation. Now if the union and UT governments are taking initiatives to cut down the rapidly increasing unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir, the revival of the above mentioned process of providing work to artists through commissioned programs will prove to be one of the best and quick remedy to the unemployed youth. This shall also be a matter of relief for the government as thousands of artists will immediately turn towards their job and will also provide work to other jobless.
