Says “Youth The Builders Of India’s Future, Stronger Industry-Academia Partnership Must”
Srinagar : Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir are not merely job seekers but the architects of India’s future, urging them to dream big, embrace innovation and equip themselves with skills required for a rapidly changing world.
Addressing the 77th State-Level Mega Job Fair at Amar Singh College, Srinagar, the Lieutenant Governor said the event serves as a bridge between education and employment by directly connecting aspiring youth with industries.
The Mega Job Fair, organised by Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, and Cluster University Srinagar in collaboration with NIELIT, Nations Development Association (NDA) and MY Bharat, brought together more than 50 reputed companies from sectors including information technology, healthcare, banking, financial services, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, logistics and engineering.
Calling the job fair a platform “where dreams meet direction and education meets industry,” Sinha said such initiatives strengthen the foundation of a new Jammu and Kashmir while instilling confidence among young people.
“You are not merely job-seekers. You are the makers of India’s future. In your hands rests your career as well as the direction of the nation’s development. You are the strength of Skill India, the face of Digital India and the true bearers of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” he told the gathering.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined six key objectives of the Mega Job Fair, including creating meaningful employment opportunities, strengthening industry-academia partnerships, aligning skill development with digital and technical requirements, simplifying recruitment through on-the-spot interviews, promoting entrepreneurship and preparing a future-ready workforce.
Encouraging students to adopt a growth mindset, Sinha advised them to follow three guiding principles—never make dreams small, never stop learning and always embrace innovation.
“Dream big and focus on new discoveries. The future belongs to those who seek new solutions, develop new thinking and lead change. Success is meaningful only when achieved with ethics and responsibility,” he said.
Highlighting the need for reforms in higher education, the Lieutenant Governor said educational institutions must prepare students for life beyond classrooms by imparting practical skills and confidence.
“Education should not be confined to classroo It must prepare every student to begin life’s journey with confidence, skills and practical understanding,” he said.
He also appealed to industry leaders to become partners in shaping the future workforce through mentorship, internships and collaborative initiatives.
“If industry and education work together, we can create an environment where knowledge and experience strengthen each other, and innovation and employment advance together,” he said.
Sinha noted the growing entrepreneurial spirit among the youth and said Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed a significant rise in entrepreneurship since 2020. Referring to the Union Territory’s top performance under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in 2021-22, he expressed confidence that J&K would emerge as a hub for innovation, startups and modern industries.
He stressed that unemployment cannot be addressed through government jobs alone, emphasizing the need to align skills with industry requirements, encourage private sector employment through MSMEs and SMEs, and strengthen the transition from education to employment through internships, mentorships and career counselling.
“Let us resolve that this 77th Mega Job Fair will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the employment history of Jammu and Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
Among those present were Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department Ram Niwas Sharma, Vice Chancellor Cluster University of Srinagar Prof. Mohammad Mobin, Vice Chancellor Cluster University of Jammu Prof. K.S. Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor IUST Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, President of Desh Bhagat University Dr. Sandeep Singh, Principal Amar Singh College Prof. Tehmina Yousuf, senior government officials, representatives of leading industries, heads of educational institutions and a large number of students.
