Advisor to Governor, B B Vyas today called for creating mass awareness about the schemes and programmes being implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir Khadi and Village Industries Board (JKKVIB) for catalysing the employability of youths and giving fillip to the economy of the state.The Advisor was addressing the officers during the 103rd Board of Directors meeting of JKKVIB here.Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce, Shailendra Kumar andSecretary Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Sheetal Nanda were also present at the meeting.The Advisor directed that Board must take greater social responsibility of providing information to people about the loans and other monitory benefits being provided by it for potential entrepreneurs.Vyas said that JKKVIB has been playing a pivotal role in promoting Khadi and Village Industries business and to ensure its sustainable development in the state.He said the Board has to take greater responsibility of providing subsidized loans and training programmers to new entrepreneurs to uplift their income. Advisor directed the officers of the Board to reinforce Rural Industries Consultancy Services (RICS) Cell, so that project reports may be prepared by the Board itself under Village Industries. He also directed the officers to extend handholding support to the educated unemployed youth of the State, so that they can avail benefits from various schemes being implemented under the purview of Khadi and Village Industries sector.
Advisor was informed that the State government appointed JKKVIB as Nodal Agency for implementing Jammu and Kashmir Rural Employment Generation Programme (J&K REGP). The scheme aims to harness the energy of the youth of the State for establishment of productive enterprises in micro industrial sector.The state government has set a target for the establishment of 1500 village industries units involving Margin Money of Rs 50 crore, thereby creating employment opportunities for 9000 educated unemployed youth in the age group of 18-40 years.It was informed that under Prime Ministers Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), JKKVIB has successfully established 1287 units, involving Margin Money of Rs 2512.18 lakh during the current financial year against the target of 797 units involving Margin Money of Rs 1992.50 lacs.The meeting was further apprised that JKKVIB has also been designated as the Nodal Agency in the state for the implementation of National Scheduled Caste Scheduled Tribe Hub (NSSH) scheme, which is an initiative of the Government of India to develop a supportive ecosystem to focus on the growth of SCST MSMEs. It was also said that awareness and sensitization programmes have been carried out in all the districts of the State under NSSH scheme and SCST MSMEs data has been collected and compiled.The meeting was also attended by Registrar Cooperative Societies M M Rehman Ghasi,Director Industries and Commerce Kashmir Bilal Ahmad Bhat, State Director KVIC, Secretary/CEO-KVIBand officers.