Describing the present age as the age of technopreneurs, Advisor to the Governor, Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, today called upon the youth to enhance their skills to raise their chances of employability in the private sector.With dwindling jobs in the Government sector, the Advisor said time has come for the youth to become role models in the field of entrepreneurship by starting their own ventures rather than hankering after Government jobs.The Advisor made these remarks after inaugurating the Skill Training Providers Summit at Teacher Bhawan, here today.Secretary, Technical Education, A. K. Sahu, Director, Technical Education, Ravi Shanker Sharma, Director, I&C, Anoo Malhotra, MD, Skill Development Mission, Mr. Suhail Masoodi, besides other senior officers were present on the occasion.Asking youth to become job providers rather than job seekers, Ganai, who is also in-charge of the Technical Education Department, said that the Government has undertaken an ambitious task to improve the skill of 47,000 youth in different fields during 2018-19 under the J&K Skill Development Mission. This, he said will enhance their chances of employability and enable them to earn respectable livelihood.The Advisor hoped that the summit will open up new vistas of employment for youth in various fields of economy and employment.Referring to the rising demand for skilled workforce in the primary and allied sectors, services and industry in the State, the Advisor stressed upon the need to fill in the yawning gap between demand and supply in the ever-expanding job markets, both nationally and globally.
“Besides addressing the gap issue, the structural mismatch of skills possessed by youth in relation to the jobs offered in the market has also to be addressed,” he advised.Ganai exhorted youth to come out of their existing mind-set and believe in their ability to excel at the cutting edge level. He said there is no dearth of jobs in the private sector and entrepreneurship and anybody can achieve gainful employment if he has the requisite skills.In his address, Secretary Technical Education highlighted the efforts being made by the Department under Skill Development Mission. He also presented a brief background of the activities being undertaken to enhance the skill of the youth.MD, SDM, said the training programmes are being currently implemented through the Prime Minister's Kaushal Vikas Yojana which aims at training 10 million youth in the country.Later, the Advisor presented placement letters amongst 64 youth who have completed training under the J&K Skill Development Mission. He also distributed cheques worth Rs. 1 lakh amongst 12 candidates who have formed Self-Help Groups for manufacturing packaging bags for the Department of Rural Development. He also congratulated the candidates who won Medallions of Excellence at India Skills National Competition in New Delhi and exhorted youth of the State to explore different opportunities to enhance and exhibit their skills.On the occasion, the Advisor also unveiled the wall calendar 2019 and Annual Report of J&K Skill Development Mission for 2018.