"There is a need to carry forward SKEWPY and other job opportunities providing initiatives launched by the coalition government in the state in a mission mode to achieve the target of providing self employment avenues to about four lakh youth in next five years," Omar said chairing the sixth review meeting of SKEWPY here yesterday.
Added endeavours are required to popularise "this most effective self employment scheme" amongst the youth and facilitating them to take its benefit and grow as independent livelihood earning entrepreneurs, he said.
While receiving the appraisal of Voluntary Service Allowance Scheme (VAS), which is part of SKEWPY and targets unemployed youth for providing voluntary allowance, the Chief Minister was told that about 40,000 such unemployed are presently receiving allowance under it.
The Chief Minister directed for coverage of all deserving candidates under the scheme, an official spokesman said.
The meeting was informed that 13 District Employment and Council centres were being completed this year out of the 20 such complexes under execution in the state, at a cost of over Rs 27.45 crores.
Commissioner Secretary Employment, Yadullah, also gave resume of the progress achieved under SKEWPY and Jammu and Kashmir Self Employment Scheme.
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The Youth Start-Up Loan Scheme (YSLS), which forms part of SKEWPY, has been introduced to encourage budding entrepreneurs in the MSME sector, he said.
Under SKEWPY, as many as 147 training camps to impart required training to 4,177 youth were organised, he added.
As many as 2,268 Detailed Project Reports for launch of various units have been referred to Jammu and Kashmir Bank for grant of financial assistance, he said, adding that the Bank has cleared 2,136 cases so far.
The Steering Committee has approved 1,589 enterprises involving total cost of Rs 168.89 lakhs. Seed capital worth Rs 46.45 crore has been provided to the youth along with Bank loan of Rs 51.15 crore from J&K Bank to start their ventures, he added.