'DNA' exclusive: GenNext in Valley largely uninterested in politics

An official study initiated to study psyche and perception of Kashmiri youth has revealed their glaring disconnect with the rest of country.

A study commissioned by the ministry of home affairs has found just 20 to 26 %  of Kashmir youth follow developments in India. The survey, however, draws solace from the fact that present day generation increasingly was also uninterested about developments in Pakistan.

The study, accessed by the DNA, has found youth increasingly turning to Islam with  61% of them lured to religious sermons. But just 6% identify azaadi with the promulgation of Islamic rule in Kashmir.

While 54% of youth identified azaadi as their preferred, final status of J&K, a further exploration found diverse meanings and much more nuanced picture.

Idea of azaadi among others centres around the notion of a “territorially separate Kashmir” with 8% envisaging a sovereign and independent state, 11% wanting “freedom from India” and 10% talking of a separate Kashmir without furnishing any further details.

The survey has highlighted serious concern about governance with 67% ranking corruption as the topmost important issue followed by human rights violations.

An overwhelming 75% feel that peaceful political protests are the most effective means for achieving their political aspirations with 72% rejecting the gun option. But the study says the most worrying factor was Kashmiri youth’s disillusionment with mainstream democratic politics, with just 5% of them joining any political party. Just 12% have voted at least once and 50% have never voted.

A substantial majority, 67% of the youth believe that Kashmiri Pandits should return to the Valley, though 70% of them acknowledged that they hadn’t done anything about it while only 18% publicly supported their cause.

The study has thrown up many recommendations, including a better interface between the government and the media through certain instituionalised mechanisms and creation of a level playing field for private TV channels and national newspapers giving them a free hand but with robust regulatory mechanisms.

Pluralising the discourses on Kashmir by the government, civil society and media through debates to generate informed public discussions and educational institutions encouraging students to engage with socio-political and economic issues facing Kashmir with an open mind to promote an independent thinking are some other recommendations.