Srinagar,August 06(Scoop News) – Describing SKEWPY as right initiative to address unemployment problem in the State, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Monday said that added endeavours are required to be put in to popularize this most effective self employment scheme amongst the youth facilitating them to take its benefit and grow as independent livelihood earning entrepreneurs.
Chairing the 6th review meeting of Sher-i-Kashmir Employment and Welfare Programme for the Youth (SKEWPY) at a high level meeting here today, the Chief Minister emphasized the need for better implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Self Employment Scheme also in place in the State.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for Finance, Abdul Rahim Rather, Minister for Higher Education, Abdul Gani Malik, Advisor to the Chief Minister, Mubarak Gul, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal, Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Mushtaq Ahmad, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Commissioner Secretary Employment, Yadullah, Director EDI, M. I. Parrey and various other senior officers.
While receiving appraisal of Voluntary Service Allowance Scheme (VAS) which forms part of SKEWPY and targets unemployed youth for providing voluntary allowance, the Chief Minister was told that about 40,000 unemployed youth are presently receiving voluntary allowance under the scheme. He was given district-wise details about the same. The Chief Minister directed for coverage of all deserved under the scheme.
The meeting was informed that 13 District Employment and Council centres are being completed this year out of the 20 such complexes under execution in the State at a cost of over Rs. 27.45 crores. It was stated that two such centres have already been inaugurated. The Chief Minister asked for timeline completion of the buildings and removal of bottlenecks if any in identification and procurement of land.
The Chief Minister directed the concerned to carry forward SKEWPY and other job opportunities providing initiatives launched by the coalition government in the State in a mission mode. He said that all efforts need to be put in place to achieve the target of providing self employment avenues to about four lakh youth in next five years.
In a PowerPoint presentation, Commissioner Secretary, Yadullah gave resume of the progress achieved under SKEWPY and Jammu and Kashmir Self Employment Scheme. He said under the directions of the Chief Minister yet another programme as a part of SKEWPY has been introduced in the State namely Youth Start-Up Loan Scheme (YSLS) to encourage budding entrepreneurs in MSME sector. The scheme provides for soft loan worth Rs. 8 lakh per unit at the simple interest rate of 6 percent to the youth of the age group of 18 to 37 years with minimum qualification of 10+2.
The meeting was informed that under SKEWPY, EDI has organized 147 training camps to impart required training to 4177 youth. As many as 2268 DPRs for launch of various units have been preferred to Jammu and Kashmir Bank for grant of financial assistance. The Bank has cleared 2136 cases so far. The Steering Committee has approved 1589 enterprises involving total cost of Rs. 168.89 lakhs. Seed Capital worth Rs. 46.45 crore has been provided to the youth alongwith Bank loan of Rs. 51.15 crore from J&K Bank to start their ventures.
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