504 participants including 479 women begin training under RAMP scheme
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute (JKEDI) on Saturday launched the fifth and sixth batches of Management Development Programmes (MDPs) across 18 districts of the Union Territory under the Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) scheme. The programme is funded by the Union Ministry of MSME and implemented in Jammu and Kashmir by the Industries & Commerce Department.
The MDPs were inaugurated simultaneously in Anantnag, Baramulla, Budgam, Ganderbal, Srinagar, Samba, Jammu, Pulwama, Ramban, Rajouri, Reasi, Doda, Poonch, Kulgam, Kupwara, Kathua, Kishtwar and Udhampur. A total of 504 entrepreneurs, including 479 women, have enrolled for the 30-hour training programme scheduled over a period of six days.
At Udhampur, the programme was inaugurated by Sh. Jugal Kumar Sharma (JKAS), Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC), while at Nagam, Budgam, the inaugural session was presided over by Sh. Irshad Ahmad Dar, Block Programme Manager, NRLM. In the remaining districts, the MDPs were inaugurated by the respective District Nodal Officers and their teams.
The district-level programmes have witnessed enthusiastic participation from local MSMEs, who will receive hands-on training in modern business management practices. The initiative aims to strengthen managerial, financial and operational capabilities of entrepreneurs, enabling them to scale up their enterprises, improve competitiveness and adopt sustainable business models.
The MDP curriculum covers business planning, marketing strategies, digital tools, financial literacy, statutory compliance, innovation and leadership, supplemented by case studies, mentorship sessions and experiential workshops for practical exposure.
Over the next six days, participating entrepreneurs and MSME operators will interact with industry experts, certified trainers and JKEDI faculty. The simultaneous rollout of MDPs across 18 districts underscores JKEDI’s commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship development, particularly in remote and underserved areas of the Union Territory.
KU flags off cultural contingent for AIU’s 39th north zone inter-university youth festival
SRINAGAR: University of Kashmir (KU) on Saturday flagged off the varsity’s Cultural Contingent for participation in the 39th Inter-University Youth Festival (North Zone), being organised by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), New Delhi, and hosted by Chitkara University, Chandigarh. The flag-off ceremony, led by Registrar KU Prof. Naseer Iqbal, was held at the Main Campus in the presence of faculty members and administrative officials.
In her message, Vice-Chancellor, KU, Prof. Nilofer Khan, extended her best wishes to the participating students and highlighted the significance of cultural platforms in higher education.
“Cultural engagement is an integral part of holistic education. Such national platforms provide our students an opportunity to showcase their talent, confidence, and the rich cultural heritage of Kashmir. I wish the contingent great success and hope they represent the University with pride and excellence,” she said.
While interacting with the students, Prof. Naseer Iqbal encouraged the participants and described them as cultural ambassadors of the University, urging them to maintain discipline, exhibit confidence, and reflect the artistic and intellectual strength of the institution through their performances.
Dean DSW KU, Prof. Pervez Ahmad, expressed confidence that the KU contingent would make a meaningful mark at the national-level event.
The contingent, comprising around 30 student participants, is led by the Cultural Officer DSW KU, Dr. Shahid Ali Khan. It will compete in various events under the categories of literary competitions, fine arts, and music, alongside teams from leading universities of the northern region.