Srinagar, Aug 16: The Administrative Council which met under the chairmanship of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday approved Project YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan)a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating employment opportunities through entrepreneurship across the Union Territory. This initiative is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to empower youth, women, and other vulnerable groups by fostering a dynamic ecosystem for creating entrepreneurship.
The programme’s vision is to convert Jammu and Kashmir into a thriving hub of enterprises and holistic employment by fostering entrepreneurship culture, unlocking its inherent potential for transition towards a sustainable economy, livelihood and empowered youth, a government spokesperson said.
To achieve this vision a four-pronged strategy has been formulated to enable enterprises and employment over the next five years which includes:
1. Creation of Nano-Entrepreneurs and Collectives: Targeting mass self-employment through small-scale businesses.
2. Creation of New MSMEs in Focus & Sunrise Sectors: Promoting growth in futuristic, sunrise and region-specific focus sectors. sectors like renewable energy and pharmaceuticals.
3. Business Acceleration of Existing Enterprises: Supporting the expansion and growth of current MSMEs.
4. Creation of Neo-Innovative Enterprises: Encouraging startups and innovative MSMEs in emerging sectors.
The programme aims to develop an effective business ecosystem & enable enterprise through a comprehensive set of interventions anchored around the 4Cs: Culture(ecosystem creation), Capital (credit enablement), Capacity (Skill Development and handholding) and Connectivity (Market Linkage).
The programme aims at creating 1.37 lakh enterprises resulting in employment opportunities for 4.25 lakh youths of J&K in the next five years with a budgetary support of around 1830 crores and influx of more than 5,000 crores from banks and financial institutions. This project shall be implemented in convergence with self-employment schemes of other departments to ensure better effectiveness by leveraging the resources of other programmes. It will also increase the efficiency and effectiveness of existing employment generation schemes.
This programme is in sync with the recent Union Budget (2024-25) announcements and the vision of the Prime Minister of creating employment opportunities for 4 crores youth of the nation, the spokesperson said, adding that this programme is a watershed initiative for generating a sustainable economic model for generation of employment opportunities for the youth of J&K through entrepreneurship ecosystem.
With this initiative, the Government of J&K is set to transform the employment landscape in Jammu & Kashmir.
In the long term, this programme is poised to have a transformative impact on the UT’s economy as ripple effects of this initiative will be felt across the region as new businesses generate wealth, improve living standards and contribute to the overall prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Government of Jammu & Kashmir is not only addressing the immediate need for job creation but is also laying the foundation for a vibrant, dynamic and sustainable economy that will benefit generations to come, the spokesperson added.
Govt approves decisions to enhance efficiency in key sectors
The Administrative Council meeting, chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, approved several major decisions on Friday to enhance administrative efficiency and support key sectors.
Creation of new posts across departments:
The Council approved the creation of 83 new posts in the Prosecution Department to comply with the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). The new positions, ranging from Deputy Director to Class IV staff, are aimed at establishing District Directorates in each district to improve prosecution handling and strengthen the Criminal Justice System, a government spokesperson said.
Additionally, 772 posts were sanctioned for the Government Railway Police (GRP) J&K to enhance railway security along the Katra-Banihal segment. This includes positions from Superintendent of Police to various non-gazetted and Class-IV roles, as recommended by a Multi-Disciplinary Committee comprising Railways, Railway Protection Force (RPF), and J&K Police members.
The Council also approved the creation of 30 posts for the State Election Commission, J&K, which has been functioning with staff from other departments since its establishment in October 2020. This move aims to ensure the smooth functioning of the Commission.
Review of J&K Administrative Services
The Council approved a cadre review of the Jammu and Kashmir Administrative Services to strengthen the administrative framework.
The review will revise the strength and composition of the services, including the addition of 87 new posts, the deletion of 50 posts, and the creation of 46 new posts. Twenty-nine existing posts will be upgraded to enhance administrative efficiency and career progression.
The Council also directed the Home Department to expedite the restructuring of the Jammu and Kashmir Police Service cadre.
Approval of J&K Start-Up Policy, 2024-27 Operational Guidelines:
The Administrative Council approved the operational guidelines for the Jammu and Kashmir Startup Policy, 2024-27 to bolster the start-up ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. These guidelines cover start-up recognition, seed funding access, application processes, funding disbursal, awards, and support for entrepreneurship.
The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) will serve as the nodal agency for implementing the policy, the spokesperson said, adding that the guidelines are designed to nurture and promote entrepreneurial talent, creating a vibrant start-up ecosystem in the region.
