The government today accorded approval to the Jammu and Kashmir Skill Development Policy for the 12th Five Year Plan. Decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, an official spokesman said here. The state has more than six lakh unemployed youths. To draw out an integrated strategy for enhancing the employability of the youth in the state and to address the growing skill gaps among youth, the state government with its Skill Jammu and Kashmir Business Plan-2012-17 envisages upskilling 9.1 lakh youth over the plan period. To achieve the target, an estimated Rs 1,575 crore will be required during the period in various sectors like vocational and technical education, micro small scale industry, horticulture, tourism, IT, health, animal and sheep husbandry, UDAAN and himayat. With the innovative intervention of S-e-K Employment and Welfare Programme for Youth, the state government has been successful in creating first ever credible scientific database of unemployed youngsters in the state. The number of unemployed youth registered in various district employment and counselling centres of J&K state was 6.04 lakh ending January 2012. The data thus generated is an indication of the magnitude of the challenge. The 12th Five Year Plan with an outlay of Rs 67822.47 crore (2011-12 prices) has been prepared.
—UNI