Srinagar, Oct 4: Recently Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, underscored the government’s unwavering commitment to provide gainful employment opportunities to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir.
He called upon banks to step forward and offer financial support to those genuinely in need.
The Chief Secretary said, “By generating employment through Swarozgar Utsav and other like campaigns we are doing a great service to our young generation, UT and nation in general. Seeing the potential and requirement in J&K, there should be no reason not to achieve 100% targets set under this program,” he said, adding, “J&K at the moment is doing exceptionally well in major sectors like Health, Rural Development but needs to do more to saturate self-employment.”
An observer while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “During the past few years many sustainable job opportunities have been created for the youth. These opportunities are vital for the socio-economic development of J&K and are also critical for promoting peace and stability in the region.”
An official said, “The government is fully committed to bringing down unemployment rates in the region. We understand the aspirations of our young population, and we are determined to provide them with the necessary tools and support to secure gainful employment.”
He said, “Collaboration between the government and financial institutions, particularly banks, is important to achieve this goal. The banks have to play a more proactive role in providing financial assistance to unemployed youth who are genuinely in need. The banks need to come up with affordable loans and financial products that can help young entrepreneurs and job seekers start their businesses or acquire necessary skills. They must come forward to assist youth in realizing their dreams and ambitions. The banks should design tailor-made loan schemes with flexible terms to accommodate the unique needs of young population,” he added.
Pertinently, programs like “Start-Up Jammu and Kashmir” program, which offers financial incentives and support to budding entrepreneurs, and the “Skill Development Mission,” which provides training and skill enhancement opportunities to the youth are designed to empower the youth to become job creators rather than job seekers. “More such programs need to be launched to help youth to chase their dreams,” said an observer.
He said, “There is an urgent need for a collaborative approach involving various stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, and the private sector, to address the multi-faceted challenges of unemployment effectively.”
Notably, during the past few years several leading banks in the region have worked closely with the government to provide financial assistance to the unemployed youth. They have been developing specialized loan products and financial instruments that align with the unique needs and aspirations of the young population in J&K.
The Chief Secretary’s statement is a clarion call for collective action. It underscores the importance of a coordinated approach that involves not only the government but also financial institutions, educational establishments, and the youth themselves to achieve their goals.
