Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Shahbaz Ahmad Mirza on Monday inaugurated a two-day Special Counselling Programme on Self Employment Schemes.
The initiative aims at motivating 6500 Post Graduate Unemployed youth of the district to start their own income generation units.
Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner said that the aim of conducting the counselling session is to provide handholding to youth passing out from universities.
While stressing on the youth to think beyond Government jobs, he asked the youth to be the job providers instead of job seekers.
The DC said the district administration will do handholding of the youth till they are able to earn their livelihood. He said there are several schemes in place in different departments which can enable them to start their own ventures.
Mirza lauded the role of organizing team headed by Joint Director Planning Imtiyaz Ahmad, Assistant Director Employment Shabnam Arif, Career Counselling Officer Saima Bhat and Event Manager Altaf Hussain.
During the day-long session resource persons deliberated on different avenues available for the youth. Nodal Officer EDI Ehsan Ellahi, deliberated on Entrepreneurship Development, Dr Arif informed the youth about avenues available in Animal Husbandry including establishment of dairy farms, Dr Arafat Hussain provided details about sheep industry and the avenues available in the sector for the entrepreneurs.
Lead District Manager GM Ahanger, District Officer KVIB Tariq Ahmad Bhat, Training Officer Handicrafts Nasir Ahmad and SC/ST Board Representative Nazir Ahmad also spoke on the occasion.
During the interactive sessions, youth sought details about several schemes available with the government for youth to establish their own income generation units.