Doda, October 10, 2025 – In a vibrant push towards youth empowerment, Government Degree College Doda hosted an engaging seminar under the flagship Mission YUVA initiative today, inspiring students to embrace entrepreneurship, skill development, and self-reliance. The event, aligned with the ongoing Udyam Jagriti 4.0 campaign, saw enthusiastic participation from students and faculty, fostering a spirit of innovation and economic independence in the heart of Jammu & Kashmir’s Doda district.Organized in collaboration with the District Employment and Counselling Centre (DECC), the seminar served as a dynamic platform to demystify government schemes and equip young minds with actionable insights.
Resource persons, including experts from the employment department and local business mentors, delivered compelling sessions on key areas such as startup ideation, digital skilling, financial literacy, and accessing subsidized loans. They spotlighted transformative programs like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY), Skill India Mission, and the Atmanirbhar Bharat Rozgar Yojana, illustrating real-world success stories of Doda’s budding entrepreneurs who have turned ideas into thriving ventures.The auditorium buzzed with interactive Q&A segments, group discussions, and live demos on app-based business tools, ensuring hands-on learning. Students from diverse streams—arts, science, and commerce—shared their entrepreneurial dreams, from agri-tech startups leveraging Doda’s horticultural bounty to eco-tourism ventures in the Chenab Valley. Faculty members, including Principal Prof. (Dr.) Jamsheed Ahmed, lauded the initiative for bridging academia with practical employability, echoing GDC Doda’s commitment to holistic education as seen in recent events like the International Yoga Day celebrations and World Environment Day drives.District Employment Officer Rafiq Ahmed Jaral, a key resource person and lead architect of Mission YUVA’s rollout in Doda, addressed the gathering with fervor. “Mission YUVA channels youth potential through awareness, skilling, and self-employment opportunities,” he stated, underscoring the scheme’s role in sanctioning over 1,396 loan cases district-wide this year alone—nearly 70% of applications received. Jaral highlighted the mission’s grassroots machinery, including Business Help Desks (BHDs) and YUVA Doots, which have conducted orientation sessions across sub-divisions like Bhaderwah and Thathri, training 99 field functionaries to date. He also announced upcoming “Big Login Days” for faster loan approvals and motivational camps at ITIs and polytechnics.
This seminar builds on Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh’s recent directives during a high-level review meeting on Mission YUVA, where he emphasized intensified awareness in educational institutions and timely bank disbursements to nurture self-employment. With Doda leading in approvals under the scheme—facilitated by Small Business Development Units (SBDUs) and partnerships with J&K Bank—the event reinforces the district’s trajectory as a hub for youth-led innovation. As part of broader celebrations like Seva Pakhwada 2025, it aligns with national goals of Viksit Bharat, promoting inclusive growth amid Doda’s scenic yet challenging terrain.The seminar concluded with a pledge-taking ceremony, where participants committed to exploring self-employment avenues, and distribution of resource kits featuring scheme handbooks and skill-building apps. Local media and officials, including representatives from the District Information and Public Relations Office, amplified the message via live coverage, ensuring wider outreach.As Mission YUVA gains momentum— with Udyam Yuva Fest 2025 already inspiring hundreds—events like this at GDC Doda are pivotal in transforming unemployed youth into job creators, one idea at a time.
