J&K Govt Creates 9.58 Lakh Self-Employment Opportunities Since 2021: Javed Ahmad Dar

Minister for Agriculture Production, Javed Ahmad Dar, recently revealed that the Jammu & Kashmir government has successfully generated a total of 9.58 lakh self-employment and livelihood opportunities through various schemes such as Mumkin, Tejaswani, PMEGP, REGP, and more, as of January 2025. These efforts have spanned over four years, contributing to the state’s efforts in addressing unemployment.

In response to a question raised by Mubarak Gul in the Legislative Assembly, Dar highlighted that the unemployment rate in Jammu & Kashmir has remained relatively stable. The rate decreased slightly from 6.7% in 2019-20 to 6.1% in 2023-24, indicating the success of ongoing employment schemes.

Furthermore, 11,526 positions have been filled through the Jammu & Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Jammu & Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) over the past two years. The industrial sector also saw the creation of 45,688 private sector jobs during the same period. In addition, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) provided employment for 8.07 lakh households by generating 3.01 crore person-days up to January 2025.

The Minister also pointed out that the government has launched multiple initiatives under the Mission Youth program to empower individuals and promote self-employment. These include schemes like Mumkin, Tejaswani, Spurring Entrepreneurship, PARVAAZ, and the Tourist Village Development Program.

One of the key initiatives, Mission YUVA, is aimed at identifying, supporting, and empowering 5 lakh potential entrepreneurs through a structured, tech-enabled approach. Over five years, the mission plans to create over 1.37 lakh new enterprises across various sectors and generate over 4.25 lakh employment opportunities.

The government has also organized 246 job fairs over the past four years, facilitating 4,893 placements by 2,760 companies. Additionally, 6,640 candidates were recommended for skill training.

As part of its effort to improve vocational training, the government has upgraded Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and launched initiatives like Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). The establishment of the Centre of Excellence in Information Technology (CIIIT) at Government Polytechnic Jammu and Baramulla, in collaboration with Tata Technologies, is also part of these efforts.

In terms of skills development, 3,342 youth were trained under the CTDP program, 3,048 under B2V4, 1,331 under PMKVY, and 7,851 women were trained through Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Moreover, 3,249 out of 4,429 enrolled candidates have received certification under the SANKALP scheme.

The Minister further informed that the Union Government has approved the continuation of the Skill India Programme (SIP) until 2026, with a budget allocation of Rs 8,800 crore to further bolster skill development initiatives.

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