KULGAM, APRIL 11: A comprehensive awareness and capacity-building programme was organized today in Kulgam focusing on Mission YUVA, Enterprise Mentorship, ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) and Job Matching initiatives.
The programme was presided over by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Kulgam, Shahzad Alam and aimed at empowering youth, entrepreneurs and aspiring job seekers with practical knowledge and stronger market linkages.
While addressing the participants, the Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship, digital platforms and structured job facilitation in strengthening the local economy and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.
He encouraged youth to actively participate in such programmes and take full advantage of government schemes.
The keynote address was delivered by Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Kulgam Altaf Ahmad Khan.
During the programme, resource persons delivered detailed sessions on various components.
An overview of Mission YUVA was presented by Employment Officer Mohd Aslam Beig, who highlighted the mission’s objective to promote self-employment, facilitate financial assistance and provide handholding support to youth for establishing viable enterprises.
On Enterprise Mentorship, Adil Ahmad, IPO, elaborated on the importance of mentorship in guiding new entrepreneurs through business planning, market assessment, financial management and scaling strategies. Real-life examples and success stories were also shared to motivate participants.
Marketing Expert Auqib Bashir delivered a session on ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce), introducing it as a transformative platform enabling small businesses and traders to access wider markets through digital integration. The process of onboarding, benefits of digital commerce and opportunities for local enterprises were discussed in detail.
Muneeb Yousuf, SBDU Lead, spoke about Job Matching mechanisms and explained the importance of skill mapping, training and maintaining a database to effectively connect job seekers with available employment opportunities.
The programme witnessed active participation from aspiring entrepreneurs, Mission YUVA beneficiaries, traders and unemployed youth.