J&K Bank today inaugurated its Srinagar chapter of Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI) where unemployed youth of the district would be trained for self-employment ventures through information and skill enhancement. Along with the inauguration a 7-day awareness camp on ‘Entrepreneurship Development' also commenced on the occasion.
District Development Commissioner (DDC) Srinagar Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo inaugurated the institute at Sonwar in presence of J&K Bank Zonal Head Kashmir (Central) Bashir Ahmad Lone, President Shafat Ahmad Banday, Director RSETI Ms. Shahzadi and Project Officer DRDA Ajaz Ali.
Addressing the gathering of unemployed persons, Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo, DDC, Srinagar, thanked J&K Bank for their liberal funding in activities of social significance under their CSR policy and said, "When one looks at the financial scenario of the state, it is because of the J&K Bank only that the CD ratio of the state hovers around 40%. Otherwise, it seems most of the banks here engage only in deposit mobilization."
Welcoming the Bank's decision of establishing such institutes of learning he said, "Government cannot provide jobs to everyone so the Banks need to take a lead in providing alternative modes of employment.
The Banks here need to have a missionary spirit in their work. Such institutes shall give our youth an optimum exposure to feel encouraged and move forward with confidence and required skill-set."
Stating that trainings are crucial to the human resource development he urged the youth to upgrade themselves so as to meet the challenges of future midway.
There is a lot of respect and integrity in self-employment, he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Bashir Ahmad Lone, Zonal Head, Kashmir (Central) said that unemployment continues to be the crucial problem as it creates so many inequalities in the society.
Stressing upon the need to move beyond government job syndrome, he said, "Government jobs will not solve our problem, we need to look towards potentially profitable and environmentally viable units like sheep farming, dairy, fish-rearing etc."
At J&K Bank, he said, we have hundreds of success stories wherein individuals and groups have surmounted financial challenges through sheer hard work, vision and self-confidence.
Earlier, Director RSETI said the institute would enable the unemployed persons to explore various means of livelihood and would help them improvise their skills needed to earn their livelihood with dignity and respect.
She said, "The institute would help them in getting financial support from the Banks after they enhance their skill sets necessary for self-employment.
Experts from diverse backgrounds, she stated, would deliver lectures to the participants informing them about various sectors of economy besides making them aware about the ways and means to arrange finances for their future enadeavours.
The participants were quite enthusiastic about the awareness camp and hoped that such interactions and training would change their lives for better.