In a significant move to address unemployment and foster entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today convened a meeting with key stakeholders to assess the outcomes of a month-long baseline survey conducted under the Mission Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA). The survey aimed to identify potential entrepreneurs (PEs) and understand the challenges faced by existing enterprises in the region.
The comprehensive survey, which began on January 1st this year, was carried out digitally and covered the entire adult population of Jammu and Kashmir, both in urban and rural areas. The extensive exercise was completed with the support of nearly 18,000 investigators and 800 supervisors, who visited around 23.64 lakh households across various districts to identify and document potential entrepreneurs.
During the meeting, Atal Dulloo praised the execution of the survey, calling it a commendable and massive effort. He emphasized the importance of such data in forming a strategic roadmap to tackle the region’s unemployment issues. He urged the concerned officials to prepare a comprehensive report based on the survey insights, recommending that the collected data be made available to universities and research institutions for further study and analysis.
In addition, Dulloo recommended that self-employment schemes be clearly distinguished from social security schemes in the data and applications under the YUVA initiative. He also proposed integrating a scheme advisor within the YUVA application to provide personalized guidance to potential entrepreneurs based on their strengths and areas of interest.
Highlighting the importance of building a robust support system for aspiring entrepreneurs, Dulloo underscored the need to enhance the institutional structure under the scheme to ensure successful handholding of applicants throughout their entrepreneurial journey. He also instructed bank authorities to design a customized loan product under the YUVA scheme to meet the needs of these potential entrepreneurs.
In a call to action, Dulloo directed Deputy Commissioners to identify skilled manpower in their respective districts who can act as ‘YUVA Doots’. These individuals would be responsible for guiding and mentoring potential entrepreneurs, helping them strategize and transform into successful business owners.
The meeting also featured contributions from various dignitaries, including the Vice Chancellors of local universities, the Chairman of J&K Bank, the Director of IIM Jammu, IIT representatives, and the CGM of NABARD. They discussed the potential for collaboration and offered suggestions to create a better roadmap for tackling unemployment and boosting entrepreneurship in Jammu and Kashmir.
DG, E&S, Satveer Kour shared valuable insights from the baseline survey, shedding light on the data collected during the survey process. Meanwhile, Secretary, L&E, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan presented a detailed overview of the survey’s methodology, its outcomes, and the role of the YUVA app in helping to create successful enterprises while simultaneously building the capacity of entrepreneurs.
As the Mission YUVA initiative progresses, it is clear that the government is committed to creating a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir, empowering individuals to turn their entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
