BANDIPORA, JUNE 14: In a major initiative to foster youth entrepreneurship and promote self-employment, district administration Bandipora on Saturday organized a district-level potential Entrepreneurship Mela at Government Degree College (GDC) Sumbal under the ambit of Mission YUVA programme.
The event was presided over by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, who inspected stalls set up by various government departments, and interacted with aspiring entrepreneurs and beneficiaries.
The event, aimed at spreading awareness about various government schemes and inspiring youth through successful local entrepreneurial journeys, witnessed enthusiastic participation from budding and aspiring entrepreneurs, students, and faculty members.
In his address, DC said that Mission YUVA is a flagship programme of the government, aimed at identifying, encouraging, and supporting budding entrepreneurs through handholding and financial assistance. “As part of this mission, a survey has been conducted to identify potential entrepreneurs in the district. This mela is an effort to connect them with support systems so they can transform their ideas into successful ventures,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, DC said that “Financial support is critical, and with the right push, our youth can become job providers rather than job seekers. Banks are ready to provide loans, and entrepreneurs will benefit from interest subvention and subsidies. I believe this mela will inspire new entrepreneurs to embrace the idea of self-employment and position our UT of J&K on the industrial map of the country.”
During the event, Qadri interacted with unemployed youth and encouraged them to learn from the experiences of successful entrepreneurs who were invited to share their journeys, thereby offering real-life examples of determination and achievement.
Addressing the gathering, Principal GDC Sumbal, Dr. Shabeena Iqbal Shawl, acknowledged the rising trend of youth embracing entrepreneurship and urged them not to confine their aspirations to government jobs alone, but to actively explore the vast opportunities available in the entrepreneurial landscape.
The mela featured facilitation stalls by departments including Employment, Industries, Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries, Handicrafts, Handloom, NRLM, and others. These stalls offered on-the-spot guidance, scheme awareness, and digital registration on the Mission YUVA app, assisted by designated YUVA Doots.
On the occasion, live demonstrations and interactive sessions provided participants with insights into entrepreneurship fundamentals, financial linkages, market access and digital tools.
The programme concluded with the felicitation of successful entrepreneurs from the district, in a gesture that reflects the core spirit of empowerment and encouragement envisioned under Mission YUVA.
As part of the event, the Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, accompanied by Assistant Director Fisheries and Fisheries Development Officer Bandipora, flagged-off a van carrying carp fish seed for stocking in various open water bodies across the Sumbal area. This initiative is part of the Department of Fisheries’ annual effort to enhance fish production and support the socio-economic upliftment of the Mahigeer (fisherfolk) community.
Among others, the event was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Zaffar Husson Shawl; CAO Bandipora; ALC Bandipora, faculty members and a large gathering of youth and students.
