‘Kashmir youth have new thinking for Startups’
30,000 elected representatives working in Panchayat system
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 2: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the Kashmiri youth now have books and laptops in their hands though there was a time when bomb blasts, strike and stone pelting used to rock Kashmir.
He was addressing ‘Kashmir Mahotsav’, organised by the Indian Institute of Sustainability, Gujarat University through video conferencing.
“Kashmir is the melting-pot of many cultures and a jewel in the crown of Mother India,” Shah said, adding the changes taking place in Kashmir are important not only for the children of the Valley but also for all youth of the country.
He said there was a time when bomb blasts, strike and stone pelting used to take place in Kashmir, but today due to changes brought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Kashmiri youth have books and laptops in their hands.
“The youth of Kashmir also have a new thinking for Startups and potential to change youth of the world,” the Home Minister said.
Asserting that after removal of Articles 370 and 35A from Jammu and Kashmir, the democracy has reached grassroots level for the first time, Shah said earlier there were just 90 MLAs and six MPs in Jammu and Kashmir but today more than 30,000 elected representatives of the people are working in the Panchayat system of Kashmir.
“Entire nation is happy with these changes brought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in last nine years,” the Home Minister said.
He said there has been significant drop in the incidents of militancy, stoning and blasts in Kashmir.
On Development front, Shah said water and power have reached every house and Jammu and Kashmir is the only region where every house has been provided with Rs 5 lakh free medical insurance.
He called upon the youth to take forward the Start-up movement in Kashmir as well.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Make in India’ scheme in 2015 and as a result India’s merchandise exports have crossed $400 crore in the financial year 2022,” he said, adding that under the PLI scheme, new investment worth Rs 3 lakh crore has come in 12 sectors.
Shah said that many facilities have also been provided for ‘Patent Registration’ for the youth of India. He said that in 2013-14 only 3000 applications came from India, while today 24000 applications come from India annually.
“Modi has launched many schemes for the youth of the country like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, Digital India Mission, Fit India and Khelo India,” he said.
Shah said that India has been moving forward through coexistence for centuries and the Prime Minister has given the mulmantra of ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ along with several initiatives to strengthen coexistence in a country full of diversities.
He said that the diverse cultures, languages, cuisines and attires are our strengths.
Shah said that by forming the Ministry of Cooperation, Modi is trying to connect every single village with the development system and the poorest of the poor Indian with the economy.
He said that Gujarat University is the University of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Dr. Vikram Sarabhai and Narendra Modi. Many great personalities have been produced by this University who have made significant contributions for the nation building. The country’s first innovation park was established in Gujarat University and currently it is supporting more than 300 Startups, he added.
He said that Amul Cooperative Society in Gujarat smoothly functions with the hard-work of over 28 lakh women and its annual turnover is Rs. 60,000 crore.
“Recently the Union Cabinet, under the leadership of the Prime Minister has decided that in the next three years, Multidimensional Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) will be constituted in two lakh Panchayats of the country which will give new dimensions of rural development to the Panchayats. Shah said that the Ministry of Cooperation is working with the State Governments for these multi-purpose PACS at the grassroots level.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided many platforms for the youth across the country. He said that ‘Skill India’ is one such platform which provides a global platform to the power and talent inside the youth.
He said that 4000 seats have been created in many new ITIs and more than 20 lakh youth have been trained in 126 streams in 15,000 ITIs.
Shah said that ‘Start-up India’ is one such initiative under which more than 70,000 Startups are strengthening their ecosystem, whereas in 2016 their number was only 724.
He added that after the launch of ‘Start-up India’ scheme by Narendra Modi, more than 70,000 start-ups have been formed and 44 percent of these start-ups are run by girls and women. Apart from this, more than 100 Startups have joined the Unicorn club and 45 percent of the Start-ups are in tier-2 and tier-3 cities.
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