Srinagar, July 22: In an area where employment avenues are increasingly scarce, the prolonged delay by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) in granting food cart permissions is becoming a critical bottleneck in the entrepreneurial aspirations of Kashmir’s youth. The future of scores of young people, particularly those hoping to earn through self-employment, is caught in bureaucratic inertia, with application files reportedly languishing in official corridors for months, if not years.
While youth are universally regarded as the backbone of a nation’s progress, in Kashmir they are struggling to carve out livelihoods amidst limited public and private sector opportunities. For many, food carts represent a viable, dignified means of self-sustenance. However, SMC’s alleged inability to streamline the permission process is stifling this potential.
According to applicants, files for food cart permissions are caught in an unending loop of delays across departments, frequently held up undera vague procedural pretexts. This has led to growing frustration among aspiring vendors who view these carts not just as a means of income, but as a step towards economic independence and dignity.
Stakeholders believe that a prompt resolution could open significant avenues of employment. “Timely approval of such small-scale ventures can foster a culture of self-reliance, reduce unemployment, and contribute meaningfully to the local economy,” said one applicant who has been waiting for over a year.
There is a growing chorus of appeals from youth groups and civil society, urging the administration, particularly Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the SMC Commissioner Secretary, and the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, to intervene and direct the corporation towards a more accountable and responsive framework.
Policy analysts argue that SMC must urgently update and publicise transparent guidelines for food cart licensing. Establishing a time-bound, corruption-free process could empower a generation seeking opportunities outside conventional employment pathways.
