JAMMU: Minister for Agriculture Production and Rural Development Department & Panchayati Raj, Javed Ahmad Dar, today lauded the transformative impact of the ambitious Himayat scheme, emphasising its pivotal role in empowering youth for the job market.
Speaking at the Alumni Meet 2025 of Himayat where several beneficiaries shared their success stories, the Minister highlighted the often-overlooked struggles behind every achievement. “Every success story has a struggle behind it. While people notice the glamorous outcomes, the hard work and challenges faced to reach them remain untold. Today, the children sharing their success stories have shown us that struggle shapes identity and teaches valuable life lessons,” maintained the Minister.
Javed Dar, who is also Minister for Election and Cooperative departments, remarked that the successful implementation of the Himayat scheme is proving a game changer for the social and economic upliftment of youth particularly in rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed on upskilling of youth in tune with the latest job market trends for better employment prospects.
The Minister outlined that the Himayat scheme must be promoted extensively, particularly in rural areas. “Those seeking jobs will benefit immensely if they are skilled and trained, enabling them to earn their livelihood,” he added.
Javed Dar urged for greater accountability and a widened scope to strengthen capacity-building initiatives. He also emphasised the importance of skill development in a rapidly growing nation. “India, with its population of 1.5 billion, is among the fastest-growing developed nations. The coming years will bring numerous job opportunities, and it is essential to prepare individuals through training and skill development,” the Minister stated.
The Minister called on district-level officers to ensure widespread promotion of the scheme, especially in rural areas. “Extensive promotion is critical to ensure that more youth benefit from the scheme. The Himayat initiative has the potential to produce countless success stories in the future, he said.
Reflecting on the government’s efforts in the past two and a half months, the Minister reaffirmed the commitment to public welfare. “We have worked tirelessly to ensure that every welfare scheme reaches the people with full dedication. Himayat is an extremely important project, and as it progresses, we will address any shortcomings and challenges to make it a success,” he assured.
The Minister said that this initiative will not only help individuals think positively about their future but also enable financially weak families to transform their lives.
Secretary of RDD & PR Department, Rachna Sharma, emphasized the transformative role of education, particularly vocational training in empowering youth and shaping their future.
Referring to the Himayat program, she said, “Himayat is precisely about empowerment through skill-based education. She cited examples of beneficiaries who have received opportunities abroad, stating, “As one of our colleagues rightly pointed out, beneficiaries of Himayat are now getting chances to work overseas and receiving international offers. This is a testament to the program’s success.”
Chief Operating Officer, Himayat, Rajneesh Gupta, shared key insights into the program’s impact during the Alumni Meet, underscoring its role in empowering youth across Jammu and Kashmir.
Gupta highlighted the program’s achievements, noting, “As of now, Himayat has trained more than 32,500 candidates and approximately 14,000 of them have been successfully employed. He remarked, “Currently, many young individuals from across the Union Territory are undergoing training at our centres, located both within and outside J&K. These centres are more than just training facilities; they are hubs of transformation, equipping young minds with the skills they need to seize opportunities and contribute meaningfully to society.”
During the event, the Minister also e-inaugurated a counseling-cum-call centre in collaboration with IIT Jammu.
The event was attended by DG Rural Sanitation, Anoo Malhotra, Director RDD Jammu Mumtaz Ali, Mission Director JKRLM, Shubhra Sharma, Director Panchayati Raj, J&K Sham Lal, Chief Executive Officer, IWMP, Rajnish Kumar and Additional Secretary, Waseem Raja.
