Dr Hilal Ahmad Bhat*
Kashmir is grappling with a growing menace – rising unemployment. As economic opportunities shrink, a concerning trend has emerged as increasing number of individuals are turning to online scams in the hopes of becoming millionaires overnight.
The current digital world has brought about both opportunities and challenges for the people. With limited local job opportunities, the young educated youth become prone to the allure of quick wealth through online scams. The unemployment crisis in Kashmir is stemming from a combination of factors such as political instability, limited industrial development, and geographical constraints. As young minds seek a way out of financial struggles, the anonymity and perceived ease of making money online becomes a quick alternative.
Kashmir is already struggling with some serious problems like late marriages, drug addiction, dowry and domestic violence which have already broken the backbone of the society. Amidst this bleak scenario, the online scams accentuate the woes of the people. The promises of huge returns with minimal effort by these online platforms quickly attracts the desperate unemployed youth which creates a vicious cycle of deception and exploitation as we have seen in a recent scam in which a Curative Survey Private limited company has duped the locals by crores of rupees.
This is neither the first incident, nor will it be the last one. This is the negative consequence of the digital world and we cannot make our society completely free from these online scams. We will definitely minimise its negative impact by educating the masses about the dangerous consequences of indulging with digital platforms. In the above-mentioned incident in Kashmir, it is very disheartening to know that people have borrowed money from friends, relatives and even sold jewellery of their close ones to invest in the company and now they are all stressed thinking about how to overcome this lost amount. The impact extends beyond financial losses, trust within the community diminishes as individuals fall victim to deceit, leading to a breakdown in social solidarity. Family breakdown and declining kinship are the post outcome of such type of scams as the reputations are tarnished in the pursuit of quick wealth in which at the end people get shattered dreams and broken relationships.
Raising awareness about the risks associated with online fraud and imparting digital literacy can empower individuals to make informed choices. It is essential to recognize that the issue of rising unemployment and its connection to online scams is not unique to Kashmir. Similar challenges exist in various parts of the world. Such type of scams were also done by fraudulent people before internet came to us. Internet enhances the frequency and outreach of these scams. Its scope can be diminished by awakening the masses about the risk of using internet.
Since the growing unemployment in Kashmir is a major reason that such online scams can thrive here it is important to address unemployment which requires a comprehensive approach that combines local initiatives with broader strategies for economic development. Embracing technology responsibly and fostering a culture of innovation will help in weakening the grip of online scams. Therefore, through concerted efforts, the region can pave the way for a brighter future, where individuals are empowered to pursue legitimate opportunities for earning livelihood and not be lured by earning wealth through online scams.
*The author is a Lecturer in Sociology at GDC Mahanpur, (J&K) and can be reached at: Hilalbhat888@gmail.com
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