Mission YUVA to become national benchmark for self-employment schemes: CM Omar

Jammu, Mar 30: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today expressed hope that Mission YUVA would emerge as a model for self-employment schemes across the country, asserting that Jammu and Kashmir aims to set a national benchmark in entrepreneurship-led development.

The Chief Minister made these remarks while addressing the Yuva Mahotsav—Mission YUVA programme held at the Convention Centre here, where he interacted with entrepreneurs and beneficiaries of the scheme.

“In the future, not only should I believe this, but we have taken it as a mission that in the whole country, in all the states, if any self-employment or entrepreneurship scheme is used as an example, it should be the Jammu & Kashmir Mission Yuva Scheme. And from my side, and from the side of my colleagues, we will continue to help you as much as we can,” he said.

He urged beneficiaries to stay connected with the scheme and continue to bring forward new ideas and expansion plans.

Highlighting the importance of the initiative, the Chief Minister said unemployment remains the biggest and most complex issue facing Jammu and Kashmir.

“I would like to say a few words about the importance of this mission. We all know that there is a very big and complicated issue of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. You can see this issue everywhere in Jammu and Kashmir—whether in the plains, hilly or remote areas,” he said.

He reiterated that no country has solved unemployment solely through government jobs.

“I have always said that no country has solved the issue of unemployment through government employment. I am not saying that we will not provide government jobs, it is our duty. But we also know that we cannot provide government jobs to everyone. If we cannot provide them, then what? Should the government raise its hands? We cannot do this,” he said.

Calling it a failure to do nothing beyond government hiring, the Chief Minister stressed the need to create opportunities for self-employment.

“It is our duty to create a situation where people can create their own units. Instead of asking for jobs, you should be the ones who provide the jobs,” he added.

He said the government aims to empower youth so that they transition from job seekers to job providers.

“We want to strengthen your hands so much that instead of asking for jobs, you yourselves start providing jobs to people,” he said.

The Chief Minister highlighted that the scheme’s success lies in its mission-mode implementation.

“Within a year, if this scheme distributes Rs 1,000 crore. We could have called it a youth scheme or programme, but we used the word ‘mission’ because we have taken it in a mission mode,” he said.

He added that working in mission mode brings seriousness, energy and renewed focus.