Srinagar, Nov 11: Fed up with unemployment, a 38-year-old PhD scholar was forced to sell apple juice on a hand cart to earn a livelihood.
Hailing from Anantnag, Dr Maqsood Ahmad Ganai served as a contractural teacher at a government-run institution for almost ten years. However, for the past five years, Ganai has had difficulty finding a job despite being a PhD.
Ganai makes between ₹100 and ₹500, but at times no one comes in. Ganai attempted to find employment through government initiatives such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), but his “over qualification” as a PhD prevented him from securing employment.
Gania is not an isolated case. Another PhD scholar Dr. Manzoor ul Hassan was forced to sell spices and dry fruits on a cart to earn a livelihood.
With a PhD in Political Science, and an MA in Political Science and Public Administration, Dr Hassan served as a contractual lecturer in a college.
Dr. Hassan now sells dry fruits and spices. He revealed that he occasionally gets depressed and that many students cry when they see him. Despite his parents’ aspirations, he often gets home at 9 PM and leaves as early as 6:30 AM.
Dr Masroor Ahmad, who has a doctorate in Political Science and Economics respectively has been selling dry fruit and other items on a cart in Kulgam.
Despite serving the higher education department for many years, he had no other option but to work as a daily wager to sustain his family.
“Don’t shy away; start a new business. You will succeed in your life,” he said, urging others to explore self-employment as a viable path to success. His story has already inspired many in the region, challenging the notion that academic qualifications are the only route to a stable career, “ he told a news agency.
