SRINAGAR, October 7: The Skill Development Department of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir today organised a comprehensive one-day training programme for members of the Small Business Development Unit (SBDU) members, reinforcing its commitment to youth empowerment and entrepreneurship under the ambitious Mission Yuva project.

The training, held at the Government Women’s Polytechnic College in Srinagar, was conducted under the inspiring theme, “Empower, Inspire, and Transform,” focusing on equipping SBDU members with the latest skills and knowledge to effectively mentor and guide aspiring young entrepreneurs across the Union Territory.

In his address, Sh.Shahzad Alam (IAS) the Director of the Skill Development Department, underscored the critical role of SBDUs as the first point of contact for young individuals with innovative business ideas. “The Small Business Development Units are the nurseries of our future economy. By empowering our SBDU members with advanced training, we are essentially strengthening the very foundation of our entrepreneurial ecosystem. This initiative under Mission Yuva is designed to ensure that every young person with a dream receives the right guidance, support, and inspiration to transform their idea into a sustainable enterprise,” the Director stated.

The day-long session covered a range of critical modules, including:

• Fundamentals of entrepreneurship and business plan formulation.
• Access to credit and navigating financial institutions.
• Market linkage and digital marketing strategies for small businesses.
• Handholding techniques and post-setup support for new entrepreneurs.

The training aimed to standardize and enhance the quality of advisory services provided by SBDUs, ensuring that young entrepreneurs receive consistent, high-quality mentorship right from the inception of their business ideas.

Mission Yuva, a flagship project of the J&K Government, is aimed at tackling unemployment by fostering a robust culture of self-employment among the youth. The project focuses on providing end-to-end support, from skill development and idea incubation to financial linkage and market access.

The event saw enthusiastic participation from SBDU members from various districts, who expressed confidence that the training would significantly enhance their ability to serve the entrepreneurial community.

The Department reaffirmed its commitment to organising such capacity-building programmes regularly to build a cadre of highly skilled professionals who can, in turn, empower the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to become job creators and contribute to the region’s economic prosperity.