Jammu, December 6: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a meeting with key stakeholders to assess preparations for an extensive baseline survey aimed at identifying 1.37 lakh youth in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) with the potential to become entrepreneurs. The survey, to be conducted jointly by the Labour & Employment and Planning Departments, will begin in January.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the Secretary of the Labour & Employment Department, Secretary of Planning, Development & Monitoring Department, Principal Secretary of School Education, Commissioner Secretary of Higher Education, Directors General of Budget and Employment & Skills, Managing Directors of the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) and Handicrafts and Handloom Development Corporation (HADP), as well as representatives from IIM Jammu, NABARD, JK Bank, and BISAG-N. Deputy Commissioners participated via video conference.
The Chief Secretary was briefed on the digital tools being used to conduct the survey. The online application, developed by BISAG-N, will be employed by approximately 20,000 field investigators designated by the Planning Department. These investigators will cover the entire Union Territory, collecting data on youth interested in self-employment through various entrepreneurship activities.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized that the primary goal of the survey is to identify J&K youth with entrepreneurial potential and to offer them support under the Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan). He encouraged students across universities and colleges in the region to participate in the survey, stressing the importance of understanding their aspirations and the challenges they face in pursuing self-employment.
The Chief Secretary further highlighted that the data collected will not only inform the administration’s future policies but also enhance the implementation of various other youth-focused schemes. He urged Deputy Commissioners to appoint senior officers as nodal officers for effective monitoring and suggested organizing training sessions for field investigators. Additionally, he called for sustained awareness campaigns across social and mainstream media.
Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary of the Labour & Employment Department, informed the meeting that the survey consists of two key components: assessing the challenges faced by existing enterprises and identifying potential new entrepreneurs. An online app developed by BISAG-N will capture real-time data through questionnaires designed for the survey.
The initiative, which targets individuals aged 18-49, aims to generate approximately 4.25 lakh job opportunities over the next five years by fostering a culture of entrepreneurship and creating 1.37 lakh new enterprises.
DG Employment & Skills, Satveer Kour, shared details of the training plan for the survey. She explained that Master Trainers would be identified in each district and trained for a week in both Srinagar and Jammu. This will be followed by two weeks of training for the field staff, who will conduct the survey under the supervision of the Labour and Planning Departments.
Additionally, the Youth Skill & Entrepreneurship App, developed to support Mission YUVA, was presented during the meeting. This comprehensive app aims to build an entrepreneurial ecosystem by engaging 1,000 motivators, establishing 80 Business Help Desks, setting up Incubation Centres, and creating an Innovation Hub at IIM Jammu. It will serve as a one-stop platform for youth to access skill courses, career counselling, job opportunities, credit facilities, and other support services, including subsidies and interest subvention.
The app will also provide job alerts, allow users to create CVs, facilitate the development of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for new enterprises using Artificial Intelligence, and enhance market linkages through e-commerce and global markets.
This initiative aims to empower J&K’s youth, support their entrepreneurial ventures, and foster a sustainable and inclusive business ecosystem in the region.