Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 16: Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Nirmal Kumar Singh inaugurated District Employment Fair at Kala Kendra, here today.
Stressing on need to promote self employment, the Deputy Chief Minister said youth of the State have enormous potential and the Government is making every possible effort to encourage culture of entrepreneurship. He said time has come to look beyond Government sector for employment and starting own ventures with active support from the Government can go a long way in addressing the problem of unemployment.
“We should encourage the youth to take maximum benefit from central and state sponsored employment schemes and they should start own business units to not only support self but also generate employment for others,” he emphasized.
District Development Commissioner, Jammu Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Director, Employment Manzoor Ahmad Lone, Joint Director, Employment Jyoti Rani Salathia Deputy Director Employment Ritu Mahajan and other officers from different departments attended the fair.
On the occasion cheques under the J&K Self Employment Scheme were also distributed among beneficiaries who had started their own business units.
Over 30 stalls from different Government, semi-Government and private organisations have been set up to generate awareness about employment schemes and options available for the youth of the area. Prominent departments who have put their stalls include, LIC, SBI, PNB, BSF, Sericulture, Horticulture, Government Polytechnic, Urban Development Agency, Industries, Food Craft Institute and others.
Recalling his experiences of China visit, Dr. Nirmal Singh said generating employment in China was a major issue but the policy makers took innovative steps to exploit the locally available potential and now the country is a world leader in manufacturing. He said taking local products to global markets is one way by which China has benefitted and on similar lines local handicrafts and village oriented trades should be encouraged so as to provide employment to the rural masses.
He said generating avenues for rural artisans and those involved in village level trades like sericulture, pisciculture, horticulture and handicrafts needs special encouragement so that rural economy gets the required boost.
He called upon the Employment Department to come up with an innovative and comprehensive proposal to address the issue of employment, adding that the same would be considered at the Cabinet level. The proposal should suggest ways and means to generate employment avenues keeping in view the challenges and requirements of present day business environment, he added.
Follow our WhatsApp channel