Crime Today News
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah interacts with local entrepreneurs as he visits the stalls during the launch ceremony of Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan), at SKICC in Srinagar.
| Photo Credit:
ANI
A day after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah launched Mission YUVA (Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan) at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre, the initiative has drawn measured optimism from young people seeking self-employment opportunities in Jammu and Kashmir.
The government programme aims to create 137,000 enterprises and generate 425,000 jobs over five years by promoting entrepreneurship-led growth across the region.
Abdullah said the initiative is aimed at empowering youth with financial support, skill development and a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem to build a self-reliant and prosperous future.
“This initiative will empower the youth of Jammu and Kashmir with opportunities, financial support and a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he said during the launch.
“I won’t claim that none of the earlier schemes worked. But every initiative can be improved. Each teaches us something,” he added. “Engaging directly with youth is key to understanding how to strengthen such efforts.”
Cautious hope
The scheme has revived cautious hope among unemployed youth, who have long struggled with limited job opportunities in the absence of a robust corporate sector.
“Amidst ballooning youth unemployment, Mission YUVA is a good initiative, but only if they really support new businesses,” said Irshad Ahmad Wani, an engineering graduate.
According to official data, 370,811 unemployed youth are registered with the government across Jammu and Kashmir, including 213,007 in the Kashmir Valley and 157,804 in the Jammu region.
During the recent Budget session, the government clarified that there were no plans to introduce a stipend or unemployment allowance for jobless youth.
Entrepreneurs say schemes like Mission YUVA could help bridge that gap – if implemented effectively.
“If the intent is to empower youth with financial support, then it is a welcome step. We have largely been disconnected from startup ecosystems due to political and other constraints,” said Muheet Mehraj, founder and CEO of Kashmir Box, a Srinagar-based online craft platform.
“The global trend of startups becoming mainstream is clear. Jammu and Kashmir needs to move in that direction. How efficient the initiative will be is a secondary question, but the intent matters.”
Launched in 2020, the broader Mission Youth framework was created to drive positive transformation among young people by aligning departmental efforts, converging resources, and placing youth interests at the centre of policy making.
For now, Mission YUVA has opened a new chapter in the region’s long-running struggle with unemployment.
Published on June 29, 2025
📰 Crime Today News is proudly sponsored by DRYFRUIT & CO – A Brand by eFabby Global LLC
Design & Developed by Yes Mom Hosting
