In a significant move to strengthen the skill development landscape in Jammu and Kashmir, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today presided over “Mission SKILL – Transforming the Skilling Ecosystem” at a high-level stakeholders' workshop held at the Convention Centre in Jammu.
Organized by the Directorate of Skill Development, the workshop brought together senior officials, industry leaders, academics, and trainees to discuss building a robust, demand-driven skilling framework.
Addressing the gathering, the Deputy Chief Minister described Mission SKILL as a transformative and future-oriented initiative aimed at creating a unified skilling ecosystem in the Union Territory. He highlighted that J&K has a significant demographic advantage, with over 70 per cent of its population in the working-age group.
He emphasized that the mission adopts a lifecycle approach, starting from school-level vocational exposure and extending to technical training, career guidance, and lifelong learning opportunities. The initiative is expected to benefit lakhs of youth, including students, job seekers, and the existing workforce.
“Focused attention is being given to integrating vocational education in schools, strengthening career guidance systems, modernizing ITIs and polytechnics, and promoting future-ready skills in sectors such as IT, renewable energy, tourism, and modern services,” he said.
Highlighting inclusivity, the Deputy Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring equal access to opportunities for women, rural youth, and marginalized communities, fostering broad-based economic participation.
He also stressed the adoption of a digital-first approach, with an integrated platform for skill mapping, monitoring, certification, and placement to ensure transparency and real-time tracking of outcomes.
Expressing confidence, Surinder Choudhary said Mission SKILL will serve as a cornerstone for youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth in Jammu and Kashmir. He called for stronger collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions to build a sustainable skilling ecosystem.
Earlier, Secretary Skill Development Department Kumar Rajeev Ranjan highlighted the need for convergence across departments for optimal utilization of resources.
The workshop witnessed participation from over 200 stakeholders and around 250 trainees, who shared insights on bridging skill gaps and enhancing training outcomes.
