Implementing the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with J&K Bank to create a capable work force through Skill Development Training Programmes (SDTP), Vice Chancellor (Kashmir University) Professor Khurshid Iqbal Andrabi today kicked off the first programme on “Advanced Automobile Repairing” conducted by the university’s Entreprenuership Development Cell (EDC) here at Rahim Automobile Institute, Rangreth.

Director Entreprenuership Development Institute (EDI) M I Parray, Director Technical Education, Showkat Zargar, Director National Institute of Electronic and Informtaion Technology (NIELIT) Ayaz Hassan Moon, Dean faculty of engineering, KU, Prof G M Bhat, CEO Rahim Automobles Abdul Hamid, J&K Bank ‘s Incharge Corporate Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility CSR Sajjad Bazaz and a prominent businessman Shakeel Qalander besides trainees were also present on the occasion.   
The bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative among other things is focusing on skill development programmes where youth, particularly those belonging to below poverty line families shall be sponsored to undergo various skill programmes in the areas of automobile repairing, mobile phone repairing, food processing, AutoCad, masonery, carpentry etc. The EDC shall be identifying the eligible candidates for the courses and the bank shall not only provide financial assistance in terms of course fee etc., but shall also monitor and handhold such candidates so that they get themselves appropriately employed.

In his message on the occasion, J&K Bank Chairman and CEO Mushtaq Ahmad said, “The need of the hour is to create a robust work force that caters to the needs of employers market in the state. We have institutionalized our support in this regard by utilizing the facilities available at KU (EDC), a vibrant platform for incubating innovative technologies and providing skill development training under one roof in the State. ”

“Moreover, the project is part of the Bank’s CSR agenda that seeks to make substantial and long-term interventions in capacity building of the weaker sections of society. We shall provide complete financial support to all the 20 trainees in the first batch for acquiring advanced trainings in the automobile repairing conducted by the KU EDC”, he added.
Appreciating the bank’s meaningful interventions in the economic development of J&K, Vice Cahncellor said, “Under its CSR, J&K Bank has been generous to all causes of social development in the state.”

He further said, “The educational institutions of the State are churning out thousands of qualified youth every year, but most of these young and energetic youth are not skilled and suited for local industry and thus lack in employability.” 

“So EDC has been engaged in organizing Skill Development Training Programme (SDTP), Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and technology incubation support at University of Kashmir for last eight years.  KU (EDC) has trained thousands of youth through its initiative and many Valley unemployed youth trained through SDTPs conducted through KU (EDC), have established their own Small Scale Industrial (SSI) units”, he said.

However, we need to establish a full fledged ‘Skill Development Institution’ that provides advanced yet comprehensive trainings in all the vocational streams to the deserving candidates, he added.

Others also spoke on the occasion. The speakers emphasized on the need of creating conditions wherein the educational institutions produce employable work force.