Jammu: Vice Chairman, Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) Mansoor Hussain Soharwardhy, on Tuesday, said the government is keenly working on raising employment avenues for state’s youth as tackling with unemployment menace forms one of the main agendas of present dispensation.
Vice Chairman said the private sector is being enthused and encouraged to invest in the state so that more and more entrepreneurs get an opportunity to earn their bread and butter.
The VC said this while chairing a meeting of the officers of Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB) Jammu convened to review the progress and achievements registered in Jammu Division under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP).
Mansoor said government will soon organize a mega workshop for unemployed educated youth at Jammu in which they would be provided necessary assistance aimed at to attract them to establish their own income generating units.
“The government is concentrating that the educated unemployed youth of the State may become the job providers instead of job seekers” said the Vice Chairman and stressed upon the youth to come forward and avail the benefits of various schemes of KVIB for a bright future.
Vice Chairman hailed the efforts of the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and the Minister for Industries and Commerce Chandar Prakash Ganga for revival of the Board.
Vice Chairman said the government is constructing an exclusive office complex for Directorate of KVIB and its Divisional Office at Jammu for which necessary funds have been earmarked and the DPRs have already been finalized. He said once the complex is completed the youth will have an easy access to seek necessary assistance from the Board.
Mansoor directed the District Officers of Jammu to organize awareness camps in their respective districts about the schemes of the Board so that they may avail optimum benefits out of these schemes.
While reviewing the financial and physical targets, the Vice Chairman directed the officers to achieve the targets in full and use the allocated funds judiciously.
The meeting was informed that the KVIB has sanctioned 508 cases in the current year involving an amount of Rs 10crore as margin money in favour of unemployed youth of Jammu Division for establishing their own income generating units under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) against the target of 895 cases.
The meeting was informed that the shortfall shall be completed within one and half month.
Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer, KVIB, Rashid Ahmad Qadri, informed the meeting that five clusters with a total cost of Rs 808.77 lakh, under various activities including fresh flowers, essential oils and Beekeeping have been received from Jammu KVIB Division and submitted to the concerned quarters for sanction and approval.
Qadri further informed the meeting that five more clusters under Pashmina, Masala Grinding, Saffron, Herbal & Aromatic and Soft Toy & Embroidery etc are under process. He said these clusters shall promote traditional industries with technical knowhow and improved expertise and shall also contribute towards employment in rural areas.
Among others the Deputy CEO and District officers of Jammu Division besides senior officers of KVIB were present in the meeting.
