SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir has set an ambitious target of registering two lakh youth under the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS) and aims to significantly expand internship opportunities available across the Union Territory. This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between the demand for internships and the current availability of positions.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the directive was issued during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, focusing on the effective implementation and enhancement of the PMIS across Jammu and Kashmir.
Officials reported that while over 4,400 young individuals have registered on the PMIS portal, with more than 2,800 completing their profiles, the number of available internship opportunities currently stands at a modest 68. This stark disparity was highlighted in the meeting.
Chief Secretary Dulloo underscored the critical need to increase industry participation in the scheme. He called for proactive engagement with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs with the explicit goal of escalating the number of internship opportunities to at least 1,000 in the immediate future.
Furthermore, the Chief Secretary directed that registration efforts be intensified and conducted in a mission-mode approach. This will involve leveraging educational institutions, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), polytechnics, district employment centres, Common Service Centres (CSCs), and placement cells to ensure widespread coverage across all districts of the Union Territory.
The Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme, launched as part of the Union Budget 2024-25, offers internships ranging from six to nine months. Participants receive a monthly stipend of Rs 9,000 and a one-time grant of Rs 6,000. The scheme is designed to enhance employability by providing structured exposure to industry environments.
A comprehensive 100-day roadmap for the scheme’s implementation was presented during the meeting. The initial phase of this roadmap targets 20,000 registrations through intensive campus drives, broad-based awareness campaigns, dedicated help desks, and the deployment of mobile registration units, particularly in remote areas.
The strategy also intends to integrate and leverage Mission YUVA, an existing initiative that has identified over 4.73 lakh youth eager to work. Approximately 2,000 ‘YUVA Doots’ are planned to be deployed for door-to-door mobilization and direct registration drives throughout the Union Territory.
The Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of continuous progress monitoring through digital platforms. He also instructed concerned departments to promptly identify and resolve any bottlenecks that could hinder the timely achievement of the set targets.
He further stated that the PMIS holds significant potential to bolster youth employability and effectively bridge the persistent gap between educational qualifications and employment opportunities within Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chenab Times News Desk