Jammu: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu under the leadership of Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in collaboration with the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce (DICCI), concluded the valedictory ceremony for the fifth batch of the Capacity Building Program on Small Business Development Units (SBDUs).
The program, held from 19th to 23rd August 2024, aimed at equipping entrepreneurs with essential skills and knowledge to navigate the challenges of small business management. The fourth batch comprised of 65 participants from various parts of the UT of Ladakh. The valedictory ceremony took place on 23rd August 2024 at the University of Ladakh, Leh. The event began with the dignitaries lighting the ceremonial lamp, marking the auspicious beginning of the program. Amit Sharma, I, Secretary (RD/IT/S&T/Transport/Disaster Management), Ladakh, highlighted the Government’s initiatives to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region, urging participants to leverage these opportunities to create sustainable ventures. He commended Prof. B.S.
Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, for his leadership in conducting the program, which has inspired young minds toward innovation and entrepreneurship. He reiterated the Government of Ladakh’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship in Ladakh.
Prof. B.S. Sahay, Director, IIM Jammu, joined online and underscored the need to focus on small businesses, often overshadowed by larger enterprises. He highlighted IIM Jammu’s Capacity Building Program, conceived by Dr. Milind P. Kamble and presented to the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship with DICCI, with an aim to train 500 entrepreneurs in Jammu and Kashmir, and
Ladakh. He also emphasized the launch of Project YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan), designed to transform the region into a hub of enterprises and employment, with a goal to create 1.37 lakh enterprises and 4.25 lakh jobs over five years, supported by ₹1830 crores in budget allocations and ₹5000 crores from
financial institutions. He encouraged the Government of Ladakh to adopt similar initiatives, aligning with the Union Budget 2024-25 and the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to generate 4 crore jobs nationwide. He also mentioned the establishment of 20 SBDU Centres in of Jammu and Kashmir and two in Leh and Ladakh, in collaboration with the University of Ladakh, reaffirming IIM Jammu’s commitment to entrepreneurship. He urged participants to be job creators rather than job seekers and work towards promoting entrepreneurship in Ladakh.
Prof. S.K. Mehta, Vice-Chancellor, University of Ladakh, commended IIM Jammu and thanked Prof. B.S. Sahay for choosing the University of Ladakh to host the tenth Capacity Building Program. He expressed satisfaction with the positive feedback from participants, who gained significant knowledge from the five-day sessions led by IIM Jammu faculty. He also expressed the University of Ladakh’s eagerness to collaborate further with IIM Jammu in this direction. Dr. Mahesh Gadekar, Chairperson of the Centre for Small Business Development at IIM Jammu, provided an insightful overview of the program, highlighting its objectives and the significant achievements made by the participants over the course of the training. The ceremony culminated with the distribution of certificates to the participants, recognizing their successful completion of the program. Dr. Vijaya Prabhagar, Program Director, Capacity Building Program, extended a heartfelt vote of thanks to all the dignitaries, participants, and organizers for their contributions to the success of the program. The event culminated with the National Anthem, leaving the participants motivated and empowered to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys. The Capacity Building Program on Small Business Development Units by IIM Jammu sets the stage for transformative growth, empowering aspiring and existing entrepreneurs to realize their dreams and contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of the nation.
