The J&K Khadi & Village Industries Board (KVIB) Vice Chairman, Mansoor Hussain Sohrawardy, today said the Board is planning to promote and reorganize the village industrial units with an aim to provide job avenues to local unemployed youth.Chairing a meeting of the Board officers, Mansoor Hussain said the village industry can provide jobs to about 2.5 lakh people and can contribute about Rs 1000 crore to State Gross Domestic Produce which will provide suitable environment for economic growth of the State.He said the Union Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has designated J&K KVIB as the nodal agency for the State under cluster development program and two clusters, under handicrafts have already been approved by the Union Ministry.
The Vice Chairman said KVIB has identified 37 clusters under various village industry activities and their preliminary project report stands submitted before the Ministry of MSME. He directed the officers of the board to identify new innovative schemes, viable in rural areas so that the board engages with the youth and harness their energy for development of the State.He further stressed the officers to work in close coordination with the people at Panchayat level so that benefits of various welfare schemes percolate down to the grass root level.He said the Board is working on proposal to involve youths to set up industrial units so that they become self reliant and even provide jobs to others and make villages hub of business activities.He asked officials to apprise legislators and panchayat members about the programme and other schemes being implemented by the Board.The meeting was attended by Secretary CEO KVIB, Deputy CEO KVIB and Board’s District Officers of Kashmir Division.