CS reviews Mission YUVA progress across J&K distts

Jammu: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Friday chaired a meeting to review the district-wise performance of Mission YUVA across Jammu and Kashmir, assessing progress on key parameters of Culture, Capital, Capacity and Connectivity aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and employment generation among the youth. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Tourism; Vice Chancellors of Universities; Director, IIM Jammu; Commissioner Secretary, Planning; Secretary, Labour & Employment; DG, Codes; Managing Director, JKRLM; Director, Employment; Director, Colleges; Convenor, UTLBC and other concerned officers.
Deputy Commissioners participated in the meeting through video conferencing from their respective districts.
The meeting reviewed the status of awareness initiatives under UdyamJagriti 4.0, establishment of institutional mechanisms including Project Management Units (PMUs), Small Business Development Units (SBDUs), Business Help Desks (BHDs) and engagement of Motivators and YuvaDoots. Progress regarding application processing, loan sanctioning, enterprise incubation and ecosystem development under the Mission was also assessed.
Taking note of the progress achieved so far Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of completing the institutional framework in districts, urging Deputy Commissioners to ensure the full functionality of SBDUs and BHDs. He highlighted the need for timely onboarding of Motivators and YuvaDoots to facilitate effective implementation of the Mission across the Union Territory. To enhance outreach, he called for intensified UdyamJagriti initiatives in colleges and among Self Help Groups (SHGs), stressing the necessity of providing aspiring entrepreneurs with adequate mentoring and support to transform their ideas into viable businesses.
In reviewing the role of financial institutions, the Chief Secretary noted significant loan sanctions and disbursements, urging banks to maintain a consistent pace of loan disbursements to clear legacy pendencies and meet annual targets. He also highlighted the importance of monitoring the progress of enterprises established through these loans to ensure their sustainability and success. Additionally, he pointed out the need to address gaps in incubation centers at higher educational institutions and requested a detailed assessment of these centers to improve their effectiveness. The Deputy Commissioners were encouraged to promote local businesses on the ONDC seller platform to enhance market access and strengthen digital commerce. A presentation by Secretary, Labour & Employment, provided insights into the district-wise status of Mission YUVA implementation, identifying areas needing more focus and highlighting gaps in incubation centers, particularly regarding governance, infrastructure, and funding. The ongoing UdyamJagriti 4.0 campaign has achieved substantial outreach, covering 95 percent of Panchayats and reaching over 251,000 individuals. The Mission YUVA mobile application has seen significant downloads, reflecting increased engagement. The campaign has successfully reached a large number of students and women in SHGs, resulting in numerous credit applications and handholding support for sanctioned applicants. Institutional strengthening efforts have led to the filling of 187 out of 367 sanctioned positions under SBDU/BHD recruitment, with ongoing efforts to fill remaining vacancies. Progress in establishing SBDU centers is notable, with 13 out of 20 districts having completed their centers, all expected to be operational by March 2026. The Mission has recorded steady growth in registrations, applications, and loan disbursements, with thousands of enterprises established and more in progress. The Chief Secretary reiterated that Mission YUVA aims to foster entrepreneurship and create employment opportunities, urging all stakeholders to collaborate effectively to achieve the Mission’s objectives in a timely manner.