Examiner News Desk | Srinagar:
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government is building a robust ecosystem to promote youth entrepreneurship through Mission YUVA, with a focus on empowering young people to become job creators and drivers of economic growth.
The Chief Minister made these remarks while handing over disbursal letters worth Rs 1.12 crore to six beneficiaries under Mission YUVA at the Civil Secretariat here.
Emphasising the government’s commitment to youth empowerment, Omar Abdullah said Mission YUVA aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with structured support, including access to credit, skill development opportunities, mentorship and institutional handholding.
“Our objective is to ensure that young people are not merely job seekers but become job creators who contribute to innovation, employment generation and economic progress,” he said.
The Chief Minister noted that the programme has been designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial ideas and their execution by simplifying access to institutional finance and enhancing coordination among banks, government departments and training institutions.
Highlighting the vast potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s youth, Omar said sustained investment in entrepreneurship would unlock opportunities across key sectors, including services, agriculture-based enterprises, tourism and small-scale manufacturing.
He reiterated that inclusive economic growth remains a key priority of the government and described Mission YUVA as a cornerstone initiative for achieving long-term self-reliance and employment generation in the Union Territory.
Congratulating the beneficiaries, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the financial assistance would help them establish and expand sustainable business ventures, create employment opportunities and contribute to the region’s economic development.
During the event, officials informed that Mission YUVA has disbursed Rs 209 crore in 3,367 cases during April and May this year. Out of a total of 5,016 sanctioned cases involving financial assistance of Rs 269 crore, disbursements amounting to Rs 209 crore were made between April 1 and May 31.
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Agriculture Production Department Ashish Chandra Verma, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shailendra Kumar, Commissioner Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring Alice Vaz, Secretary Labour and Employment Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Mission Director Mission YUVA, Director IIM Jammu, representatives of J&K Bank and other senior officials.
