The training would be provided under Skill Empowerment and Employment Special Scheme for J&K, which will be 100 percent centrally assisted and cost the exchequer Rs 235.3 crore.
The scheme is a placement linked, market driven skill training programme for J&K youth. The placements will be in the private sector both within and outside J&K, it said.
It will commence from June-July this year and cover youth from both Below Poverty Line and non-BPL categories.
In the first year, 15,000 youth will receive training for salaried and self employment opportunities.
A recommendation in this regard had been made by a committee headed by former RBI Governor C Rangarajan.
The panel was set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to suggest measures to enhance employment opportunities in the state and formulate a plan involving both private and public sectors.
Of the total expenditure, Rs 70.59 crore will be met from existing budget of the Rural Development Ministry under SGSY Scheme to cover 75 percent cost of training rural BPL youth.
Earlier an ‘Expert Group’ was set up by the Prime Minister to enhance the employment opportunities in the Jammu and Kashmir to formulate a jobs plan involving both public and private sectors, especially for the youth. The Expert Group submitted its report to the Prime Minister in February, 2011. The report suggested a two pronged approach to employment generation (a) identify sectoral initiatives for growth and employment generation and (b) increase employability of youth by improving skill sets. In case of the latter i.e. to improve the skills of the youth and create employment, the Expert Group suggested a number of initiatives of which the Scheme, “Skill, Empowerment and Employment in Jammu & Kashmir” is an important component.
