A one-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) was organized today by the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) in collaboration with the Government Degree College at Kupwara. Ajaz Ahmad Bhat (IAS), Director, JKEDI, presided over the event.
This Awareness Programme was organized by JKEDI as part of its efforts to create mass awareness among the educated youth in the border and far flung areas of J&K about the realities of the labour market in the Union Territory and the scope for entrepreneurship and self-employment across various sectors.
This programme is intended to identify and network eligible candidates so that they can take advantage of different government schemes for entrepreneurship development after proper registration and screening.
In his address, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat discussed the current economic situation of the Union territory and how entrepreneurship can revolutionize J&K’s development. Innovation and value addition are essential to traditional businesses.
In addition, the Institute will reach every area of the UT, regardless of how far flung. Under the leadership of Hon’ble Lt. Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha, the Government is committed to developing remote, border and far flung areas of the UT. The location of the border district of Kupwara should not limit the dreams of aspiring entrepreneurs of the area, he added.
He further said that various sectors, including food processing, horticulture, animal husbandry, fashion technology, and others, have a huge scope. He also gave an example of how young people in district Kupwara can be innovators in food processing using walnuts that are abundant in the district and of superior quality. It could be an export-oriented activity that appeals to a broader global audience.
“In order to be a successful individual, one must be his or her own boss and simultaneously create employment opportunities for others. The government may not be able to provide job opportunities to all, but one should view this as a positive and search for other options and there is nothing better than entrepreneurship,” said Ajaz Ahmad Bhat.
Senior faculty members of JKEDI also participated in the event and spoke about various activities and initiatives of the Institute. District Nodal Officer, Aijaz Ali, gave a detailed presentation about the acheivements of the Institute.Dr.MeirajUd Din Bhat, In Charge Trainings, enumerated different opportunities available to the youth. Dr.NailaKhanday, In Charge CWE, spoke about the importance of women entrepreneurship and its challenges. Various other initiatives were also discussed like the J&K Startup Policy and different employment-related Government schemes available to the youth of the UT.
Later in the program, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat, Director, JKEDI distributed certificates to female entrepreneurs from district Kupwara who had recently completed a 10-Day Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
Mohammad Shafi Lone, Principal GDC Kupwara, Prof. G.R. Ganaie, MudasirSikandar, Functional Manager, DIC, Dr.AltafPeerzada from Sheep Husbandry Department, Iftikhar Ahmad, Horticlutre Development Officer, Arif Ahmad Khan, Communication Officer, JKEDI, Mohsin Abrar, Assistant Faculty, JKEDI, staff members of GDC and hundreds of students were present on the occasion.
