Srinagar: Javed Ahmad Dar, the Minister for Agriculture Production, announced that Jammu and Kashmir has created 9.58 lakh self-employment and job opportunities through various government programs over the past four years. These programs include Mumkin, Tejaswini, PMEGP, and REGP, with the latest numbers reported up to January 2025.
While responding to a question from Mubarak Gul in the Legislative Assembly on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the Minister noted that the unemployment rate in Jammu and Kashmir has not changed much. It was 6.7% in 2019-20 and has slightly decreased to 6.1% in 2023-24.
Dar shared that 11,526 people have been selected for jobs through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB). Additionally, the industrial sector has created 45,688 private jobs in the last two years. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), 3.01 crore person-days of work have been generated, helping 8.07 lakh households.
The Minister also introduced several government initiatives to support self-employment and entrepreneurship. One of these is Mission YUVA, which aims to help 5 lakh potential entrepreneurs by providing support and resources. This initiative is expected to create over 1,37,000 new businesses and generate more than 4,25,000 jobs over the next five years.
In the last four years, the government has held 246 job fairs, leading to 4,893 job placements by 2,760 companies, with 6,640 candidates recommended for skill training. To tackle unemployment, the government has improved Government Industrial Training Institutes through partnerships with private companies and launched programs like Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE). They have also set up Centres of Excellence in Information Technology (CIIIT) at Government Polytechnic Jammu and Government Polytechnic Baramulla in partnership with Tata Technologies.
The Minister reported that 3,342, 3,048, 1,331, and 7,851 young people have been trained under various programs, including the Capacity Building and Training Program (CTDP), Back to Village (B2V4), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), and Women Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Out of 4,429 enrolled candidates, 3,249 have received certification under the SANKALP program.
The government is also successfully implementing national programs like PMKVY and SANKALP, with the Union Government approving the continuation of the Skill India Programme (SIP) until 2026, with a total budget of Rs 8,800 crore.
