EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN JAMMU-KASHMIR

The Government of Jammu & Kashmir has taken several measures for creation of employment opportunities to the unemployment youth, which include:

1. Implementation of self-employment schemes across various sectors  to establish sustainable income-generating ventures for unemployed youth. A total of 7.4 lakh self-employment/livelihood opportunities generated/strengthened since the year 2021-22 till date.
2. Launch of new schemes like Mumkin, Tejaswani, Spurring Entrepreneurship under Mission Youth to support the establishment of business units and sustainable livelihood projects, including in the transport sector.
3. Conducting job fairs and placement drives at divisional and district levels to provide a platform for unemployed youth and potential employers, enhancing job placement opportunities. Number of job fairs conducted in last two years are 151 and total 1631 companies participated.
4. Introduction of skill development programs organized in FY 2023-24 to bridge the skill gaps among the youth.
5. During the period 2020 to 2023 (upto October) a total of 4,74,464 candidates participated in career counseling sessions and a total of 2,12,109 candidates participated in awareness campus for  career guidance.
6. Implementation  of  governance  reforms,  including  transparent large-scale recruitment drives has been carried out post reorganization. The Accelerated Recruitment Committee was constituted in 2020 to oversee public sector recruitment.
7. Under “YOGYATA SE ROZGAR” drive, emphasis has been made on merit-based selections in a transparent, equitable, and fair manner.
8. In order to infuse an element of transparency and to speed up the recruitment process, interviews for all the posts up-to and including Pay Level 5 and some in Pay Level 6 have been dispensed with.
9. A total of 31,830 vacancies (including J&K Bank) in Government sector have been filled from August 2019 to till date.

The Government of India has notified a New Central Sector Scheme for Industrial Development of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on 19.02.2021 with an outlay of Rs. 28,400 crore to boost industrial development.

Various policy initiatives have been taken by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the following policies are notified for making the UT an investor friendly destination:-

1. J&K Industrial Policy, 2021-30
2. J&K Industrial Land Allotment Policy, 2021-30
3. J&K Private Industrial Estate Development Policy, 2021-30.
4. Policy for Promotion of Foreign Investment in Industrial Sector in J&K, 2022.
5. J&K Single Window Rules, 2021.
6. Turnover Incentive Scheme, 2021.
7. J&K Wool Processing Handicrafts and Handloom Policy, 2020.
8. Financial Support Scheme for Cooperatives/Self Help Groups, 2020.
9. Credit Card Scheme for Artisans and Weavers.
10. Karkhandar Scheme for Development of Craft Sector in J&K.
11. Revised Education Scheme 2022 for Artisans/Weavers of Handicrafts and Handloom Department.
12. Export Subsidy Scheme.

These initiatives have led to receipt of investment proposals worth Rs. 88,915 crore with employment generation potential of more than 3.98 lakh.

Since 2019 -20 (till October, 2023), an investment of Rs.5,319 Crore has been materialized. This has boosted the local economy and employment opportunities by increasing investment.

This was stated by Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha.