Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 4

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said the government was building a robust ecosystem to promote youth entrepreneurship through Mission YUVA, aimed at transforming young people from job seekers into job creators.

At a function held at the civil secretariat in Srinagar, CM Omar handed over loan disbursal letters worth Rs 1.12 crore to six beneficiaries under the scheme and reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and economic growth through entrepreneurship.

He said Mission YUVA had been designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with access to credit, skill development, mentorship and structured support, helping bridge the gap between business ideas and implementation.

The CM said the initiative sought to improve coordination among banks, government departments and training institutions while simplifying access to institutional finance.

He said sustained investment in youth empowerment would help unlock the potential of Jammu and Kashmir’s young population, particularly in sectors such as services, tourism, agriculture-based enterprises and small-scale manufacturing.

CM Omar described inclusive economic growth as a key priority of the government and said programmes such as Mission YUVA were essential for achieving long-term self-reliance and generating employment opportunities across the region.

Congratulating the beneficiaries, he expressed hope that the financial assistance would help them establish and expand sustainable enterprises while creating additional employment opportunities.

Officials at the event said Rs 209 crore had been disbursed under Mission YUVA in 3367 cases during April and May.

Of the 5016 cases sanctioned under the programme, involving financial assistance of Rs 269 crore, disbursals worth Rs 209 crore were made between April 1 and May 31.

The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary,

Adviser to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and other senior government officials, along with representatives of J&K Bank and the Indian Institute of Management Jammu.