RAJOURI: The District Administration Rajouri, in collaboration with the District Employment & Counselling Centre (DE&CC), organised a one-day Potential Entrepreneurship Mela under the flagship Mission YUVA programme today.

The event was held at the Dr. Raj Kumar Thapa Memorial Conference Hall and witnessed an overwhelming turnout of more than 500 individuals, including over 350 aspiring entrepreneurs from different parts of the district.

The event was presided over by Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma and attended by Assistant Commissioner Revenue Jhangir Khan, District Employment & Statistics Officer Sandeep Sharma, Deputy Director Employment Mohammad Nawaz, ACD Aqil Naveed, Nodal Officer JKEDI, Functional Manager DIC, Lead District Manager, Chief Agriculture Officer, Chief Animal Husbandry Officer and others. Their presence highlighted the administration's commitment to nurturing an entrepreneurial ecosystem in the district.

The Deputy Commissioner interacted with participants, inspected the departmental stalls and urged the youth to actively leverage the government schemes aimed at fostering entrepreneurship. He reiterated that youth empowerment through sustainable livelihoods remains a central priority of the district administration.

One of the key highlights of the programme was the motivational interaction with local successful entrepreneurs, who shared their personal journeys, challenges and achievements. These stories offered practical guidance and served as an inspiration for the budding entrepreneurs present at the event.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Director Employment, Mohammad Nawaz informed that 178 applications have already been received under Mission YUVA from across the district, reflecting growing enthusiasm among youth to take up entrepreneurial ventures. He commended the efforts of the Employment Office and the Yuva Doots for their continuous mobilization and handholding of potential beneficiaries.

The Mela also featured active participation from Self-Help Group (SHG) members, Yuva Doots and representatives from Skill Building and Development Units (SBDU) and Business Hubs for Development (BHD).

Dedicated stalls by the line departments showcased the self-employment schemes, eligibility guidelines and financial support mechanisms. On-the-spot counselling and registration facilities were provided by the Employment Department for interested participants.