BARAMULLA: In a significant initiative to enhance employment avenues for the youth of Baramulla, District Administration Baramulla, in collaboration with the Dagger Division of the Indian Army and District Employment and Counselling Centre Baramulla today organized a Mega Job Fair at the Chinar Yuva Centre, Baramulla. The event witnessed overwhelming participation from hundreds of job aspirants hailing from various parts of the district.
The event was attended by Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Baramulla, Javed Hassan Baig; Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Minga Sherpa; senior Army officers, district-level officers, representatives of participating companies, and a large number of enthusiastic job aspirants. A total of 28 reputed companies from sectors such as hospitality, automobile, education, banking and other service industries participated in the job fair.
The companies collectively offered 1,024 vacancies, with many conducting on-the-spot interviews and some issuing provisional appointment letters during the event itself. This direct engagement between employers and job seekers made the fair a highly productive and impactful platform. Alongside private companies, several line departments of the district administration also set up awareness stalls to disseminate information about key livelihood and self-employment schemes, including MUMKIN, Tejaswini, PMEGP, Mission YUVA and NRLM. These stalls aimed to encourage entrepreneurship and guide youth towards government-backed opportunities for self-sustenance and growth.
Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Baramulla appreciated the efforts of the District Administration and the Indian Army for jointly organising the fair. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “This initiative reflects the growing commitment of our institutions to the future of our youth. Such collaboration between civil administration and defense forces is commendable and essential for building trust and development at the grassroots level. I congratulate the District Administration for creating meaningful opportunities for our young generation.”
On the occasion, Deputy Commissioner Baramulla handed over appointment letters to two selected candidates and interacted with job aspirants and company representatives. Addressing the media, he expressed satisfaction over the success of the fair and the high level of participation.
"Our aim is to empower the youth of Baramulla by connecting them with real opportunities,” said DC. “This job fair is more than just a recruitment drive. It is a step toward building confidence among our young population and encouraging them to pursue careers, skills, and entrepreneurship with the full backing of the administration and the private sector.”
The DC also appreciated the companies and departments that participated in the fair and encouraged youth to continue engaging with similar initiatives. “Baramulla’s youth are talented and eager to contribute to society. We will keep creating platforms like this where they can thrive and grow,” he added.
KUPWARA: Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Kupwara, has officially launched a one-week Management Development Program (MDP) under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme. The initiative commenced at the District Employment and Counselling Centre (DECC) in Kupwara, marking a significant step towards bolstering local entrepreneurship.
Mumtaz Ahmad, Assistant Commissioner of Revenue Kupwara, who was present at the event, underscored its importance in driving regional economic growth. The ceremony was graced by key officials, including Arshid Qadir, Assistant Labour Commissioner, Kupwara, and Azmat Hussain, District Nodal Officer for JKEDI Kupwara, who highlighted the program’s alignment with broader developmental goals.
Designed to enhance managerial and entrepreneurial skills, the MDP aims to empower existing business owners with advanced strategies for sustainable growth. By fostering innovation and improving operational competencies, the program seeks to strengthen the economic ecosystem of Kupwara, contributing to long-term job creation and community development. This collaborative effort reflects JKEDI’s commitment to nurturing a culture of excellence and resilience among local enterprises under the RAMP scheme’s framework.
JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a meeting to review the pre-launch preparations of Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan)—a transformative initiative aimed at empowering youth through entrepreneurship, skill development and inclusive economic participation.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, Ministers Sakeena Itoo, Javed Ahmed Rana, Javed Ahmad Dar, and Satish Sharma. Also present were Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Education Department Shantmanu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Finance, AGM NABARD, Vice Chancellors of various universities of J&K, Secretary Labour & Employment Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, and all Deputy Commissioners and other concerned attended the meeting both in person and via virtual mode.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah lauded the “pathbreaking” work undertaken by the Labour & Employment Department during the baseline household survey conducted across Jammu and Kashmir. He noted with satisfaction that much of the data aligns with existing government records. He suggested that this data be shared across departments to ensure easy access and usability for formulating new schemes or refining those already in place.
Secretary Labour & Employment, Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, presented a detailed overview of the survey findings, highlighting its focus on four foundational pillars—Culture, Capital, Capacity, and Connectivity. He explained that the survey is designed to foster an entrepreneurial culture and build a supportive ecosystem aimed at enabling individuals aged 18–49 to establish at least 1.37 lakh new enterprises, thereby generating around 4.25 lakh job opportunities over the next five years.
The presentation also provided insights into the programme’s design, key innovations, implementation strategy, and budget as outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR). Secretary Ranjan emphasized that the core objective of Mission YUVA is to identify youth inclined toward self-employment and entrepreneurship, and to provide them with robust support through structured mentorship, training, and access to capital.
Mission YUVA envisions transforming Jammu & Kashmir into a vibrant entrepreneurial hub by unlocking the potential of its youth. With a focus on strategic interventions and comprehensive support systems, the mission seeks to spur economic growth, reduce unemployment and cultivate a spirit of self-reliance across J&K.
JAMMU: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a review meeting on the implementation of the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) here at the Civil Secretariat.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Agriculture Production Department Javed Ahmed Dar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary Agriculture Production Department (APD) Shailendra Kumar, Mission Director HADP Rahul Yadav, and other senior officials.
All Deputy Commissioners of Jammu & Kashmir, along with progressive farmers, participated in the meeting via video conferencing from their respective district headquarters.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, while sharing the vision of HADP, remarked that the programme is not just a policy intervention but a movement to empower farmers, modernize the agri-sector, and build a sustainable Rs 100,000 crore agri-economy for Jammu & Kashmir by 2030.
On the role of digital innovation in agriculture, he stated that by integrating cutting-edge technologies such as AI-based advisory tools and real-time monitoring applications, governance is being redefined at the grassroots. “We are redefining how governance reaches the grassroots. HADP is making agriculture smart, data-driven, and future-ready,” the Chief Minister said.
Terming progressive farmers as the backbone of agricultural transformation, the Chief Minister said, “Their stories of success inspire confidence in our mission and reaffirm our belief that change is happening, village by village, farm by farm.”
Reiterating his government’s unwavering support, he affirmed that every scheme, every platform, and every rupee invested under HADP is aimed at directly benefiting the farmer. “Our government will continue to walk alongside our cultivators in this journey of growth and innovation,” he added.
Earlier, Mission Director Rahul Yadav presented a comprehensive overview of HADP’s evolution, highlighting the preparation of 29 Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) within a record four-month period. He noted that the programme aims to transition agriculture in J&K from a low-growth, subsistence-based model to a vibrant, commercially-driven agri-economy.
The meeting also deliberated on strategies to address structural challenges in the sector, particularly the long-standing cycle of low productivity and income. The programme is anchored around key strategic levers of change, with 29 distinct, future-ready projects forming its foundation.
It was informed that an investment of Rs 1000 crore has already been made in research and innovation across these projects. The roadmap for implementation was also shared, comprising three phases: Phase-I – Outreach and Awareness, Phase-II – Onboarding and Seeding, and Phase-III – Grounding, Monitoring, and Evaluation.
Officials presented updates on major ongoing initiatives, including the Daksh Kisan programme, monthly district performance rankings, Knowledge Systems (KS) documentation, and the KS Output Tracking App. The meeting spotlighted a range of innovative digital interventions, including the HADP Kisan Saathi Portal, AI-based Credit Scheme Advisor, and the Online DPR Generator Tool.
Further, the meeting discussed the Jammu & Kashmir Climate Innovation Platform (JKCIP), outlining its financing models, targeted beneficiaries, and geographical areas of intervention.
Since its rollout in April 2023, HADP has achieved notable milestones such as the development and multiplication of high-quality seeds, promotion of oilseeds and cash crops, technological advancements in sericulture, formation of 300 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), and the launch of the JK Soil & Land Resource Information System.
These initiatives, supported by research-backed strategies, have yielded tangible outcomes and are propelling the Union Territory toward the goal of a sustainable Rs 100,000 crore agri-economy by the year 2030.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister launched several digital platforms to enhance transparency, efficiency, and farmer engagement. These included the Credit Scheme Advisor App, Online DPR Generator App, KS Sathi Output Tracking App, and the Online JKCIP Dashboard.
He also released the inaugural edition of “HADP Insights”, a monthly newsletter, and launched the Kisan Sampark Abhiyan–JKCIP. Additionally, he e-inaugurated 1,842 Kisan Saathi Applications and conferred 10,765 Daksh Kisan Skilling Certificates.
During an interactive session, the Chief Minister engaged with progressive farmers from various districts who shared their success stories. He enquired about different aspects of their businesses and appreciated their crucial role in driving agricultural transformation on the ground.
SRINAGAR: Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat Wednesday chaired a meeting of Officers at DC Office Complex here to review the progress of ongoing major drainage projects under execution in the district. The major drainage projects are aimed to strengthen the existing drainage network system and upgrade the system to protect the City from water logging and potential flood-like situations.
At the outset, DC took a comprehensive review of ongoing major drainage projects across the district, emphasizing the urgent need for solution-oriented strategies to protect City from water logging and potential flood-like situation during any inclement weather conditions. During the review meeting, DC directed the concerned to expedite works on the drainage projects and ensure timely completion of critical drainage infrastructure. He highlighted the importance of sustainable and long-term planning to enhance the City's flood resilience, especially in light of past weather-related challenges.
Dr Bilal urged the Officers to prioritize innovation and efficiency in project execution, while also coordinating closely to address bottlenecks and streamline processes. DC reiterated the Administration's commitment to improving urban infrastructure and protecting Srinagar residents from environmental vulnerabilities. He said that all works taken up must be in accordance with need-assessment. On the occasion, DC was given a detailed appraisal of major vital projects including new projects and ongoing works for upgradation and augmentation of drainage networks system in the district.
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