As part of Atma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, the Department of Horticulture Planning and Marketing District Kupwara (HP&M) on Thursday conducted one-day awareness programme regarding Pradhan Mantri Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprise Scheme (PM-FME) at Handwara.
At the outset, Nodal Officer PM-FME/ Area Marketing Officer Kupwara, Mushtaq Ahmad highlighted the importance of spreading awareness among the public for motivating them to start entrepreneurial units and also encourage existing unit holders to expand their business by availing the benefits of the scheme with the help of financial institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, District Resource Person of PM-FME, Danish Ahmad shared information about the scheme and importance of One District One Product (ODOP) to generate employment besides the modalities and procedure of formation of cases to avail benefits with subsidy for establishment of entrepreneur units of PM-FME.
On the occasion, he invited participants to approach the department where officers will handhold them in the DPR to start business with confidence.Benefits of the scheme were also shared by Tanveer Ahmad and Dr Khursheed Ahmad HDO Langate of the concerned Department.
The J&K Bank representatives, Mudasir Ahmad while speaking at the awareness camp said that J&K Bank always facilitates entrepreneurs to avail financial help, provided the DPR is feasible and eligibility criteria is met as specified by the department.
During the interactive session between potential applicants and Bank authorities, the representatives also addressed various queries and apprehensions on the spot and demanded that all the stakeholders including HP&M, JK Bank and entrepreneurs shall come on one platform to chalk out steps to make the entire process simple, easy and glitch free.
Almost three applicants presented themselves before the DRP for online submission of their applications.Meanwhile, a couple of entrepreneurs also shared their success stories of their growth with the intervention of the PM-FME scheme that increased their income and expanded their units.
Among others, the programme was attended by representatives of other allied departments, staff of HP&M, President Fruit Mandi Handwara, President Bakers Association, traders, local entrepreneurs and unemployed youth.