Srinagar, Nov 11: Director, Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI), Ajaz Ahmad Bhat on Saturday interacted with the aspiring female entrepreneurs during a valedictory certificate distribution function of the Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) under Tejiswini scheme at the JKEDI district centre, Ramban. 

The scheme is a special endeavour of Mission Youth, Government of Jammu and Kashmir aimed at providing financial assistance to young women for setting up gainful self-employment ventures suited to their skills, training, aptitude and local conditions,” the JKEDI said in a statement.” It will empower and encourage women to set up income-generating units through manufacturing, services or trading activities.” 

Director, JKEDI stressed the need for inclusive growth through women empowerment and inclusion of tribal, backward and border populations in nation-building “as envisaged by” the Lt. Governor of UT of J&K, Manoj Sinha. 

A one-day Entrepreneurship Awareness Programme (EAP) was also organized on Saturday by the JKEDI in collaboration with the ITI at Ramban which was presided over by Ajaz Ahmad Bhat. In his address, he discussed the current economic situation of the Union Territory and how entrepreneurship can revolutionize J&K’s development. “Such awareness programmes are organized by JKEDI as part of its efforts to create mass awareness among the educated youth in the far-flung areas of J&K about the realities of the labour market in the Union Territory and the scope for entrepreneurship and self-employment across various sectors,” he said.

Ajaz said various sectors, including food processing, horticulture, animal husbandry, sheep husbandry, beekeeping, dry pomegranate seeds, pickle making, restaurants and others have a huge scope. “In order to be successful, one must be his or her own boss and simultaneously create employment opportunities for others. The government may not be able to provide job opportunities to all, but one should view this as a positive and search for other options and there is nothing better than entrepreneurship,” he said. 

B.R Magotra, Principal ITI Ramban, Assistant Director DECC, Dr Sushant Mahajan,  Ashraf Ahmad Sheikh, District Nodal Officer JKEDI, staff members of JKEDI and ITI Ramban and hundreds of students were present on the occasion.