Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 15 : Underlining commitment of the Government to effectively address problem of unemployment, Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand said that landmark initiatives have been taken to upgrade skills and employability of educated unemployed youth of the State and flagship Sher-e-Kashmir Employment & Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) is the most potent endeavor in the direction to encourage entrepreneurship among the youth.
He said SKEWPY looks at the problem with a holistic approach and through new policy initiatives comprehensively addresses issues related to employment.
Mr. Tara Chand was addressing a large gathering of people at the inauguration of employment awareness cum registration camp of SKEWPY, at Khour today.
District Development Commissioner Sanjeev Verma, Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Akhnoor N.S.Jamwal, EDI representative Anirudh Gupta and Deputy Director Employment besides other senior officers of different departments participated in the camp.
Underscoring on the need to develop culture of entrepreneurship among the youth, the Deputy Chief Minister said that need of the hour is to look beyond Government sector for employment and develop those skills which have good market potential, adding that an entrepreneur not only becomes a role model for the society but also contributes in strengthening economy of the state besides providing employment opportunities to many others.
He said the J&K Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) has been established with the aim to give encouragement to self employment ventures and the Government through various central and state funded schemes is giving due incentives to various self employment programmes.
Mr. Tara Chand directed the authorities that the camp should be extended to ten days and registration should be given due attention, as the Tehsil has a poor record of SKEWPY registration. He called upon youth to come forward in large number for registration and avail the benefits extended under the programme.
In order to extend the reach of awareness about the scheme necessary instructions were also passed to arrange similar camps at Balli Nathal and Pargwal.
While congratulating people on transfer of land to higher education department for opening Degree College at Khour, Mr. Tara Chand said the Government is well aware of the requirements of those living in rural areas and with the recent cabinet approval long pending demand of the people of the area for a degree college would soon become a reality. Foundation stone of the college would be laid soon and demand for an ITI is also under active consideration of the Government, he added.
Describing Kissan Credit Card as important tool for extending help to agriculturists, the Deputy Chief Minister said that the card provides much needed financial assistance in the shape of soft loans to those involved in the profession of agriculture and allied sectors like poultry and dairy farming, adding that real aim of the assistance would be met when the awareness reaches to maximum number of farmers, as out of targeted 1.5 lakh only 12000 people have availed the benefits under the scheme so far.
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