Underlining significance of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for youth (SKEWPY) in addressing the unemployment crisis in the State,Omar said that this initiative of his Government was to inculcate entrepreneurship spirit in educated youth and pave way for creation of large scale job avenues.
“We see our youth beset with the fashion of pondering for government employment, even if it might be of lower standard”, he said adding that this fashion has to give way to Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurship (MSME) culture to evolve a viable and suitable solution to unemployment problem.
Distributing seed capital sanction letters to 51 budding entrepreneurs trained by Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) under SKEWPY at a function here this evening, the Chief Minister said that the new employment initiative of his Government has started bearing fruit.
Present on the occasion were Minister for PHE and Irrigation, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister for Industries and Commerce, S.S. Slathia, Minister for Agriculture, Ghulam Hassan Mir, Minister for Higher Education and Employment, Abdul Gani Malik, Advisors to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul and Devender Singh Rana, Chief Secretary, S.S. Kapur, Economic Advisor, Jaleel Ahmad Khan, Director, JKEDI, M. I. Parray, senior officers and entrepreneurs.
He said completion of
The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction that JKEDI has issued 48 sanction letters to budding entrepreneurs at
Omar said that he was happy to note that lady entrepreneurs have shown equal interest in launch of self employment ventures. “Their good number receiving the seed capital sanction letters today is good omen for the success of the scheme”. He said the ventures selected by the budding entrepreneurs were of variety and viable nature. He expressed the hope for their flourishing and prayed for their success.
The Chief Minister said that ample funds have been made available to JKEDI to train the youth, sanction seed capital and help entrepreneurs in preparation of detailed project reports besides ensuring hassle free loan from J&K Bank.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather said that the Chief Minister from the day first of his taking over has focused attention on addressing the employment crisis. “The SKEWPY is the result of it”, he said and termed the scheme first of its kind in the country adding that it would not only open avenues of self employment to the youth but give new dimension to the economic development of the State.
The Finance Minister said that Rs. 50 crore have been earmarked to JKEDI this year to train and sanction seed capital to the young entrepreneurs. “There will not dearth of funds in this regard. You had asked for Rs. 10 crores and we have kept Rs. 50 crores at your disposal”, he told JKEDI adding that this showed the keenness and concern of the Government to address unemployment problem.
Rather said that J&K Bank has been fully sensitized about the clearance of loan cases within two months of their submission. “I am happy that the Bank has performed well by accomplishing 90 percent of the task within less than two months as reported to me by the Bank officers”, he said.
The Finance Minister said that the Chief Minister himself monitors the scheme and takes its review quarterly while he and the Minister for Employment, Abdul Gani Malik take stock of the progress of SKEWPY monthly and Chief Secretary, S.S. Kapur, who is also Chairman, JKEDI reviews it fortnightly under the directions of the Chief Minister.
Rather said that the delivery on SKEWPY would be the first performance indicator of Jammu and Kashmir Bank and any lagging behind on this count would not be accepted. “The presence of the Chief Minister, five Cabinet Ministers, two Advisors, Chief Secretary, Economic Advisor at this function itself speaks loud and clear of the concern of the Government about tackling unemployment crisis”, he asserted.
The Minister for Industries in his address assured full assistance of his Department to JKEDI in its efforts to train youth and help them launch independent livelihood generating ventures. “My Department would take necessary action in clearing the land transfer issue”, he said and laid stress on arranging employment Melas at block, tehsil and district levels to make youth aware of the benefits of SKEWPY.
In his welcome address, the Director, JKEDI expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his directions to the Institute for successful implementation of the scheme. “Under your direction we have linked the Institute will all important centers through its website and an in house software programme has been created to keep every aspect of the functioning and achievement of JKEDI available to the people”, he said.
The Director JKEDI referred to the visionary guidance extended by the Chairman of the Institute and the Chief Secretary, S.S. Kapur to the Institute regularly for its improvement in functioning and effective delivering. He said the Chairman’s keen interest and guidance in the success of JKEDI to provide viable solutions to unemployment problem by implementing the important provisions of SKEWPY in this regard makes the Institute energetic and fills the functionaries with enthusiasm.
Parray said that JKEDI has targeted to train 2000 youth this year. “Of this 926 have so far been trained and Draft Project Reports for 300 schemes have been finalized involving Rs. 28.30 crore loans and Rs. 10.30 crore seed capital”, he said adding that 108 entrepreneurs have been provided the sanction letters for the seed capital since October this year by the Institute.
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