Srinagar, 20 OCT(KNB): For many educated but unemployed youth in Srinagar, food carts were more than just small businesses they were a last hope for earning an honest livelihood. But with food carts being closed at Jhelum Riverfront, (Nawa-e-Subh) side Municipal Corporation (SMC), many now find themselves struggling with mounting debts, financial losses and an uncertain future.
Several affected youth say they had invested their life savings or borrowed money to establish these small businesses, hoping to become financially independent rather than depend on others for their daily needs. Today, some say, their source of income has disappeared, but their debts have not.
“I had taken a loan to build this cart. Now my cart has been destroyed, but the loan is still on my head. I started this work to earn my livelihood, not to depend on anyone. How will I repay the money when I have nothing left to earn?” an affected food-cart owner said, his future uncertain.
For these young people, the losses extend beyond money. Their ability to pay household expenses, support their families and repay borrowed funds has also been put at risk.
Another food-cart owner said the youth were not opposed to regulations but wanted the authorities to provide a practical alternative before their livelihoods were disrupted.
“We are ready to follow every rule and obtain permission. All we want is a designated place where we can work legally. The government talks about helping unemployed youth, but what are we supposed to do when our small businesses are shut down and the promised system is still awaited?” he said.
The SMC has said it is working on a structured mechanism for food carts, including an online permission portal and modern food-cart zones. However, until the proposed system becomes operational, affected youth remain caught between enforcement action and uncertainty over when they will be allowed to resume their businesses.
The delay has raised questions over whether adequate arrangements are being made for small entrepreneurs before restrictions are enforced. For young people who invested borrowed money in the hope of building a better future, the promise of a portal offers little immediate relief when loan instalments and household expenses continue to accumulate.
The SMC has recently launched an online portal for marriage halls, raising expectations among food-cart owners that a similar mechanism for their businesses could also be introduced without further delay.
For these educated but unemployed youth, the demand is simple: regulate their businesses, provide designated spaces and make the permission process transparent but do not leave them without a livelihood while they wait.(KNB)