In a decisive move to strengthen rural employment and foster grass-roots entrepreneurship, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shopian, Shishir Gupta today convened a review meeting to identify the skill training needs of rural youth and strategically align local initiatives with Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs).
The meeting focused on mapping local employment landscapes, identifying high-demand, market-oriented skills, and establishing seamless coordination among various stakeholder departments. The aim is to deliver quality training and unlock sustainable, credit-linked self-employment avenues for the district's rural youth.
The DC stressed the necessity of transitioning towards a highly structured approach for skill mapping and market-driven training. He emphasized that establishing strong convergence with RSETIs is pivotal to equipping local youth with relevant modern skills and securing sustainable livelihoods across the district.
The chair enquired about the ongoing courses taught through RSETIs and highlighted that proper, long-scale training is vital for creating high-quality local products. The DC laid emphasis on scaling up the production of handicraft items, identifying them as highly important assets that require increased output and support.
Recognizing the massive potential of women-led enterprises, he underscored that Self-Help Group (SHG) women play a critical role in driving this rural economic transformation. To actively convert skills into viable businesses, the DC directed the concerned departments to facilitate the establishment of micro-production units, pointing out Garlic and pickle units as immediate thrust areas.
Targeted distribution and enhanced availability of high-yielding seeds, root stock management to meet the heavy local demand in identified priority areas, facilitating youth in easy access to credit-linked self-employment schemes, amplifying public awareness and ensuring maximum participation of rural youth in skill development initiatives was emphasized.
GM DIC, Shurjil Naik; ACD, Muzafar Ahmad; SDM, Zainapora, Bilal Ahmed; Director, RSETI, CAO, CHO, representatives of employment, handicrafts and handloom and other concerned were present in the meeting.