* Consider proposals for promotion of local handicrafts and industries
Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 8: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today held detailed discussions with experts on the vision paper prepared by the Ministry of Labour and Employment aimed at creating a conducive entrepreneurial environment for large scale employment generation in the Union Territory.
The meeting was attended by the Director of the Indian Institute of Management, Jammu, Chancellor of the Indian Institute of Science and Technology, ACS of the Forest Department, Director General of Finance, Director General of Industry and Commerce, Director General of Labour and Employment, Director General of Planning and Director General of Planning, among others.
Addressing the meeting, Daroo emphasised on creating a highly favourable environment for the development of entrepreneurship in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. He directed to devise a well-thought-out strategy to create an entrepreneurship ecosystem from the grassroots to the top level.
He maintained that the broad contours of the strategy should consist of identification of opportunities, full sensitization of potential beneficiaries on such measures, capacity building for them, credit linkages, operationalization of the units and lastly support to ensure sustainability.
The Chief Secretary also supported incorporation of large UT institutions as innovation and incubation hubs to mentor start-ups and introduction of a wide-ranging mechanism for mentoring and counselling aspiring entrepreneurs from the block level. He called for identification of expert resource persons to impart training to the youth.
He stressed the need to link entrepreneurship in educational institutions with the regular curriculum to guide and motivate the youth towards this area of ​​job creation.
The exploratory scheme titled “Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan (YUVA)”, which was thoroughly discussed today, aimed at extending tangible support to emerging nano, micro and small enterprises in the form of cultural development, infusion of capital, capacity building and building connectivity (market linkages) to enable an enabling environment for these enterprises to thrive.
The document also envisages creating enterprises capable of generating employment for around 500,000 youth in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as developing an ecosystem by creating mass awareness and partnering with banks and other institutions to create viable and sustainable opportunities for future entrepreneurs.
The document envisages transforming the employment and entrepreneurial environment in Jammu and Kashmir by creating a business-friendly environment, equipping workers with 21st century skills, providing access to customized financial products and markets, and building human capacity for new and existing enterprises to achieve sustainable economic growth in the UT.
Later, in another meeting chaired by the Chief Secretary, the outline of future plans for large scale promotion of handicrafts and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Jammu and Kashmir in collaboration with the World Bank was discussed.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Commerce and Industry, Trade Promotion Department, Jammu and Kashmir, Chairman Tourism, Jammu and Kashmir, Director Handlooms and Handicrafts, Jammu and Kashmir, MD of SIDCO and other concerned officers.
The Chief Secretary gave insight into the outline of the proposals prepared by the concerned departments. He said the work undertaken by the department heads is the basis for a mega facilitation plan to be taken up for consideration by the World Bank. He stressed that while formulating the plan, emphasis will be placed on adoption of latest technology, new designs, skill enhancement, credit linkages and marketing interventions.
The interventions proposed for its promotion included formalisation of the MSME sector, interest subsidy to distressed MSMEs, compensation for annual guarantee fee of CGTMSEs, penetration of digital lending to MSMEs, branding, packaging and promotion of ODOP/GI products of J&K, arranging for buyer-seller meetings, management of raw materials and inventory, entrepreneurship and skill development and other measures beneficial to this sector in the UT.
Other measures suggested included setting up testing and certification centres, participating in e-commerce platforms, exhibiting in front of a global audience, collaborating with international brands, skill development and upgradation, extending credit facilities, setting up trade centres and participating in trade fairs and exhibitions while adhering to Environmental Social Responsibility (ESR) throughout the entire process.
