Chief Secretary, B B Vyas Friday chaired a meeting here to review the progress of the Jammu & Kashmir State Rural Livelihood Mission (JKSRLM) under which two flagship employment schemes of the Government viz UMEED and Himayat are being implemented in the state.UMEED which presently covers 46 blocks across 22 districts, aims at financial inclusion of the poor especially women in order to empower them and harness their potential. The target is to provide financial support of Rs 755 crore to 9 lakh rural households by constituting 90 thousand Self Help Groups (SHGs) by linking them to sustainable livelihood opportunities.During the Financial Year, 2017-18, against a target of 7880 SHGs under UMEED, till date 788 SHGs have been formed and against a target of 668 Village Organizations, 140 VOs have been formed.Chief Secretary said that women in the state play a very important economic role in the informal sector and mobilizing and organizing them through SHGs will lead to substantial enhancement in their household income and improve their quality of life.
Similarly, under the remodeled Himayat programme, with a budget allocation of Rs 1601 Cr, JKSRLM will facilitate training of over one lakh and 24 thousand un-employed youth over a period of 3 years across the state. The skill training courses shall be for duration of 6 months, 9 months and 12 months. As on date more than 3800 candidates have registered for skill training and employment programme across the state.The Union Ministry of Rural Development has already approved Champion Employers like Apollo Medskills Ltd, Surya Wires Private Limited Manpower Group Service Pvt Ltd for providing training and employment to over 9200 youth of the state. The skill training of 467 candidates will commence from second week of July, 2017.Chief Secretary observed that the young men and women of the state are exceptionally gifted and it is necessary to channelize their energies through programmes aimed at skill and entrepreneurship development.To enhance the employment opportunities for the youth, especially those inclined to work in the state, Chief Secretary urged JKSLRM to explore the possibility of approaching Railways, NHPC, PGCIL, IRCON and other PSUs and companies associated with many major projects in the state for imparting training to youth for their absorption in some of the ongoing mega projects.