Youth making new strides is my mission: Omar

Excelsior Correspondent
PAMPORE, Nov 9: Describing budding entrepreneurs of Jammu and Kashmir as Christopher Columbus, Vasco Da Gama and Neil Armstrong of present day, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah today said that his mission to see youth of the State making new strides and achieving new highs in the available vast field of entrepreneurship, is totally above of any political motives or vote bank politics.
Addressing the unit holders, who have entered into the entrepreneurship field through the innovative initiative of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth (SKEWPY) projected and piloted by Omar Abdullah, here this afternoon, the Chief Minister said that he is not at all concerned whether budding entrepreneurs and qualified youth support his political ideology or not and cast their votes in his favour or not but his only dream is to see them as successful entrepreneurs in the State.
Assuring handholding of young entrepreneurs by the Government, the Chief Minister asked them to e-mail their experiences and difficulties directly to the Chief Minister’s mail account i.e. gupkar@gmail.com. “If you are not in a position to see me personally, you can mail your difficulties to me through e-mail so that I would address your concerns with regard to launch of your units”, he maintained.
The Chief Minister said that he is satisfied to know that more than 2000 educated youth have successfully launched their projects under SKEWPY during the last three years, adding that the ocean gets created by the drops of water. “If your number is little than the magnitude of unemployment crisis yet your success is encouraging and path breaking”, he told the budding entrepreneurs.
Omar Abdullah said Government, J&K Bank and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (EDI) are at the beck and call of intending entrepreneurs for all possible help and handholding to nurture their talent and make them successful entrepreneurs. He asked them to exhibit their courage, commitment and will to supersede all difficulties and achieve their goals.
Chief Minister said that tourism and agriculture are also very good sectors for the entrepreneurs to start their ventures. He said presently Jammu and Kashmir is importing mutton, chicken, milk and eggs besides other almost all essential commodities, as such, young entrepreneurs have good opportunity to invest in this sector. He also referred to the tourism sector and said many avenues are available for youth to begin their economic activities in tourism.
The function was also addressed by Minister for Planning and Development, Ajay Sadhotra while Principal Secretary Planning and Development, B. R. Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Power Development Department, Arun Mehta, Commissioner Secretary Labour and Employment, B. A. Runiyal, Secretary Industries, Farooq Ahmad Factoo and Director EDI, Dr. Mohammad Ismail Parrey were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the unit holders in their experience sharing speeches expressed gratitude to the Chief Minster for providing them path braking and innovative initiative like SKEWPY to realize their goals in the entrepreneurship sector.
The Chief Minister released various publications produced by EDI on the occasion. He also inspected stalls installed by the entrepreneurs exhibiting their projects.