Baramulla, April 19, 2025: In a significant step toward fostering a startup culture in Jammu and Kashmir, the District Nodal Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute , Baramulla, conducted an impactful session on entrepreneurship at Dak Bungalow, Baramulla. The event, organized under Mission YUVA , spotlighted the crucial role of Yuva Doots in empowering youth and driving self-employment initiatives across the district.
Mission YUVA, a flagship program launched by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in January 2025, aims to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a thriving hub for young entrepreneurs. The session focused on equipping Yuva Doots—grassroots ambassadors of the mission—with the knowledge and tools to identify, mentor, and support aspiring entrepreneurs. The District Nodal Officer emphasized the importance of their role in connecting youth with government schemes like MUMKIN, Tejaswini, and the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme
Held in collaboration with the District Employment and Counselling Centre Baramulla, the session drew Yuva Doots from various parts of the district. The Nodal Officer presented insights from a January 2025 baseline survey, which identified over 58,000 potential entrepreneurs in Baramulla alone. “Yuva Doots are the bridge between ambition and opportunity,” the officer remarked, encouraging them to leverage the Mission YUVA app and portal to guide entrepreneurs toward resources and funding.
The event featured practical training, including a live demo of the Mission YUVA app, which simplifies the process of registering and tracking entrepreneurial ventures. Resource persons from JKEDI and DECC Baramulla provided sector-specific guidance, highlighting opportunities in agriculture, handicrafts, and technology-driven startups. The session also outlined the support structure of Mission YUVA, including one Single District Business Unit and six Block-level Handholding and Development Support units established in Baramulla to streamline assistance.
Local voices echoed the session’s significance. “This training has given us clarity on how to inspire and support young entrepreneurs in our villages,” said Rifat Jan, a Yuva Doot from Sopore. The initiative builds on recent efforts, such as a Mega Job Fair in Baramulla, which introduced thousands of youth to Mission YUVA’s vision of self-reliance.
The District Administration Baramulla, in partnership with JKEDI, reaffirmed its commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship. With Phase 2 of Mission YUVA set to roll out, focusing on structured financial and mentorship support, the district is well-positioned to lead the region’s startup revolution. The session at Dak Bungalow marks a pivotal moment in empowering Baramulla’s youth to shape a vibrant, self-sustaining economic future.
