Ladakh is often portrayed in pictures — its snow-covered mountains, clear blue skies, serene Buddhist monasteries, and prayer flags fluttering in the wind. But behind this postcard-perfect beauty lies a quieter, often overlooked reality: the struggle of Ladakhi youth in finding meaningful employment.
As a young person from this region, I have witnessed this reality — not through statistics, but in the eyes of friends who wait year after year for a government job. I’ve heard it in the silence of classrooms, where students wonder what comes after their degrees. I’ve felt it in conversations where dreams often fade into sighs.
Limited Options, High Expectations
In most Ladakhi households, especially in regions like Kargil, Drass, Nubra, and even parts of Leh, securing a government job is seen as the ultimate goal. Parents urge their children to study hard, believing that education will lead to stable employment. But how many such posts actually exist? Thousands compete for a handful of vacancies. And if one doesn’t succeed? The alternatives are painfully limited.
Private sector opportunities are scarce. Tourism offers some seasonal work, but it rarely provides year-round income or long-term security. Agriculture, once the backbone of our economy, no longer suffices to sustain a modern livelihood. So where do our young people turn?
Education vs. Harsh Realities
A growing number of students from Ladakh travel to cities like Jammu, Delhi, Chandigarh, and beyond in pursuit of higher education. Families invest everything they have — savings, property, even loans — in the hope that a degree will unlock a better future.
But when these students return, they often face a harsh reality: their education doesn’t guarantee employment. With few local industries, a weak IT sector, and minimal youth-focused development initiatives, many are left with two options — wait indefinitely for recruitment, or migrate permanently to urban centres, far from home, family, and cultural roots.
The Weight of Waiting
The period between finishing education and finding a job can be incredibly taxing. It burdens young people emotionally and mentally. Many Ladakhi youth suffer quietly from anxiety, stress, and depression. It’s not just a financial struggle — it’s a crisis of identity and self-worth.
Some feel embarrassed watching their peers earn in other cities while they remain idle at home. Others buckle under societal pressure to “do something” or “settle down.” I’ve heard stories of talented youth losing hope, and some even falling into harmful habits. This is a crisis we rarely discuss openly.
What Needs to Change?
We need genuine investment in Ladakh’s youth — not just lofty speeches during visits or empty promises during elections, but real, tangible initiatives:
- Skill development centres,
- Local entrepreneurship support,
- Modern, practical education aligned with current job markets.
Tourism, one of our region’s main economic drivers, must be developed inclusively — with local youth at the forefront, not just outside contractors. Training programs in solar technology, sustainable agriculture, handicrafts, eco-tourism, IT, and the creative arts can unlock immense potential. The talent exists — it simply needs the right opportunities.
Mental health services should also be introduced in schools and colleges. Not every student needs to become a government officer. There are many pathways to success — but our system must recognise and support them.
A Hopeful Conclusion
Despite the challenges, I still believe in the strength and resilience of Ladakh’s youth. I see friends launching local ventures, students burning the midnight oil to chase their dreams, and families who continue to believe in the promise of education.
We are not lazy or lost — we are simply waiting to be seen, heard, and supported.
Ladakh deserves more than just headlines about its climate or its scenic beauty. It deserves policies and plans that reflect the aspirations of its people — especially the young hearts who want to stay, grow, and build a future right here.
BY Humera Tabasum, R/O Mushkoo, Drass
really powerful
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