Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 20: In a major decision aimed at generating employment for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today extended Centrally Sponsored Scheme—Special Industry Initiative for Jammu and Kashmir (SII-J&K) Udaan till December 31, 2018.
The Scheme was due to expire by the end of this year and there had been persistent demand from Jammu and Kashmir Government as well as representatives of unemployed youth for its extension in view of generation of employment under it.
Official sources told the Excelsior that the CCEA headed by the Prime Minister today approved the proposal mooted by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the ground that the Scheme has turned out to be very useful for the unemployed youth and its extension till December 2018 will give more employment to the educated youth.
The CCEA members, who attended the meeting including Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and Urban Development Minister Harpreet Singh Puri.
Commenting on yet another major Central initiative for Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh said: “this reflects Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special concern and priority for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. This also shows will of the Central Government to reach out to the youth in turmoil hit State’’.
Sources said Special Industry Initiative for Jammu and Kashmir—Udaan provides exposure to the youth of J&K to the best of Corporate India to the rich talent pool available in the State.
This is the first major initiative by Narendra Modi Government to engage youths of Jammu and Kashmir after four-day visit of Rajnath Singh in Jammu and Kashmir from September 9 to 12 during which had had assured that the Centre would take all initiatives to help youths of the State to deviate them away from falling into “undesirable activities’’.
The State Government as well as various other political parties and youth organizations during their meeting with Rajnath Singh had impressed upon him to take certain major initiatives to engage youth of Jammu and Kashmir so that they don’t fall into the hands of militants and trouble mongers and are deviated from the stone pelting incidents.
According to sources, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh during his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir had been given special briefing on the Special Industry Initiative for the youth and the damages it could have if the scheme was allowed to lapse. “In view of this, the Union Home Ministry acted immediately and took the first initiative of engaging the youth by extending Udaan till December 2018,’’ they said, adding that some more similar initiatives for the youth of Jammu and Kashmir were in the pipeline.
“So far, 109 leading Corporate Houses have partnered with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) under UDAAN with a commitment to train youth from Jammu and Kashmir covering Organized Retail, Banking, Financial Services, IT, ITES, Infrastructure, Hospitality etc,’’ sources said.
They added that till now, 34,587 candidates have been selected of whom 31,903 have joined, 22,237 have completed the training, 7,649 are undergoing training and 14,694 have been offered jobs.
“In spite of four months of unrest, the Scheme has gained a good momentum and pace of implementation has been the best during financial year of 2016-17 since its inception. More than 12,000 candidates had joined training and nearly 10,000 candidates were offered jobs. 140 mega selection drives were held so far covering all districts of the Jammu and Kashmir,’’ sources said.
Pointing out that Udaan is a national integration scheme with the goal to mainstream Jammu and Kashmir youth with rest of the country, sources said the scheme not only provides skill enhancement and job opportunity but also connects these bright youths from the sensitive and militancy-infested State with the vibrant Corporate sector of India.
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