The alarming increase in fake job consultancies in Kashmir is now exploiting the aspirations of thousands of unemployed youths in the region. These are shady entities, disguised as employment agencies, that prey on the despair of any job seeker, promising job offers in foreign lands or other cities of India.
Such businesses not only siphon away the meagre resources of poor families from these jobs but also crush the dreams of young men already facing the fire of unemployment in a distraught and stricken region.
This scam has thrived in Kashmir due to the easy availability of its fertile ground. The unfortunate scenario of joblessness combined with a rare exercising of stringent regulatory mechanisms has enabled these so-called consultancies to thrive.
They charge exorbitantly for visa processing, training, and placement services, all the while smiling at the camera and waiting for the opportune moment to vanish with the money.
In some instances, victims are sent abroad on forged documents, only to be deported back or stranded in foreign countries in desperate situations. Therefore, the consequences of their acts put financial losses to someone, and of lesser consequence; hence, they will bring with them all disrepute to the actual employment agencies in Kashmir and tarnish their reputation in the region.
In other words, they aggravate the already dire mental health crisis among Kashmiri youth, who inflict on themselves the tremendous pressure to get a stable job under very challenging socio-economic circumstances. This emotional bluff of betrayal followed by extreme financial security will surely earn them depression and hopelessness.
Time for authorities to consider the growing nuisance and do something about it. A strong regulatory framework should be established by the government to regularly monitor and license job consultancies, giving permission only to credible and reliable agencies.
The job seekers must therefore be made privy to the telltale signs of bogus consultancies through public awareness campaigns. These would include the exorbitant promises held out by these agents, a distinct lack of transparency in their dealings, and pressures imposed upon job seekers to make upfront payments.
Besides these, a helpline devoted to these issues should be set up, along with a grievance redressal mechanism to assist any victim and help bring these offenders to justice.
Civil society and the media have a vital responsibility in the exposure of such scams and the advocacy for the interests of the victims. Work done together will make job seekers safer and restore trust in the legitimate employment avenues.
