Srinagar, June 3 -- By Yawer Sultan

The moment a wedding proposal enters a Kashmiri household, a familiar question quickly takes center stage: What does the prospective groom do for a living?

A second question usually follows close behind: Does he have a government job?

That inquiry captures a social reality that has gradually tightened its grip on Kashmir over several decades.

Government employment has evolved into far more than a source of income. It functions as a badge of respectability, a marker of family standing and, in many cases, a deciding factor in marriage negotiations.

Many parents view this preference as common sense.

Kashmir has spent years grappling with economic uncertainty, limited private-sector growth and high un...