Kashmiri youth are intelligent, excel everywhere: Dr Jitendra

Awantipora, Aug 25: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Monday inaugurated two state-of-the-art facilities at the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST), Awantipora, in a major boost to innovation and entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir. The newly developed Innovation Technology Business Incubator (i-TBI), sponsored by the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the iFactory Lab under the Centre for Industry 4.0, sponsored by the Ministry of Heavy Industry, were inaugurated at IUST’s Innovation Campus.Speaking to reporters after the inauguration, Dr Singh said the initiative marks a major step in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Jammu & Kashmir and will help the region benefit from the start-up boom unleashed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.“Once again, we congratulate Islamia University’s Shakeel Sahib and his colleagues, who have aligned the institution with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of wealth creation and start-ups. Among all educational institutions, this university has benefited the most from the central government’s new start-up schemes,” he said.The Union Minister announced that, beginning today, the Ministry of Science and Technology has taken responsibility to support 15 start-ups at IUST, with plans to support 30 more over the next three years. Financial assistance worth Rs 5 crore has already been sanctioned, while an incubation hub and a capacity-building programme for faculty are also being established, he added.Appealing to other educational institutions to emulate IUST’s example, Dr Singh said, “The Government of India has opened countless new opportunities. The youth of Kashmir are intelligent and aspirational. Whenever they step outside the Valley, they excel in every field. Why not create an environment here that allows them to display their talent locally and also build their own future?”He further said that by 2047, when India celebrates 100 years of independence, it will be today’s youth who will raise the nation’s flag high. “This programme is dedicated to them, and it is a step towards shaping that future,” he added.Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice-Chancellor, IUST, said the university was honoured to host Dr Jitendra Singh for the inauguration of the DST’s i-TBI and the Ministry of Heavy Industry’s iFactory Lab. These facilities would catalyse innovation, incubation, and start-ups in J&K, driving the vision of Viksit Bharat,” Prof Romshoo said.