KARGIL, MARCH 25, 2021: As part of the Skill Development Programme of the Government of India under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Department of Technical Education and Skill Development Ladakh in collaboration with Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council Kargil organized Ladakh’s first Kaushal Mela at Auditorium Kargil here on Wednesday.

Lieutenant Governor (LG) Ladakh Radha Krishna Mathur, Chairman and Chief Executive Councilor, (CEC), LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan, Executive Councilors Aga Syed Hassan Arman, Er Phunsog Tashi and Mubarak Shah Nagvi, Secretary Technical Education Department Ladakh Padma Angmo, Deputy Commissioner (DC) and CEO, LAHDC, Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve, Superintendent of Police Kargil (SP) Kargil Anayat Ali Choudhary expert speakers from different parts of the country besides participants in good number were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, LG Ladakh R K Mathur while expressing happiness and satisfaction on the overwhelming participation of youth in the workshop said that the youth are the future who have the responsibility to enhance Ladakh’s economy. He said that the Government of India is focusing on skill development among youth to ensure more intake in private jobs and entrepreneurship.

LG Mathur said that the UT Administration Ladakh is looking forward to develop different job oriented and Ladakh relevant skill development courses to make the local youth skillful.

As an instance, he cited plumbing, electrician works, carpentry, pashmina production, sea buckthorn production, animal and sheep husbandry sector and other related sectors where the local youth can take private jobs and also become entrepreneurs after acquiring the necessary technical skills.

CEC, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan in his address while expressing gratitude to the UT Administration for having organized the Kaushal Mela in the district termed it as a unique initiative which would go a long way in imparting necessary skills to the youth to take up jobs as per their interest and aptitude.

The CEC also urged the participants to take maximum benefit from the experts of repute and strive to develop within them skills by opting for courses in different trades so that they will be in a position to earn their livelihood without hankering after Government jobs.

Addressing the participants, the Secretary Technical Education Ladakh Padma Angmo said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to empower every youth of the nation with unique skills and in this regard the skill development workshop is being organized for the first time in Ladakh.
Padma Angmo said that skill development will be an integral part of school and higher education and added that as a new UT we must have the potential to impart skill based education to the youth in different sectors.

The Secretary added that in few months the Administration will start skill training based on the demands of participants and the skill requirements of the UT.

The first ever Kaushal Mela hosted experts from the fields of solar technology, electrician, apparel and home furnishing, automotive sector, media and entertainment. The event also had a session on entrepreneurship to brief the youth about the available opportunities to start their own business.

Experts from prominent institutes including NIESBUD, Scientech, Global Himalayan Expedition, AMHFSSC, ASDC and other agencies gave presentations regarding specific skills, their relevance, post-training opportunities, apprenticeship and entrepreneurship options.

Around 150 youth participated in the event at the venue and many participated online as the event was also streamed on Facebook Live.

Meanwhile, NIESBUD is also collaborating with the Higher Education Department Ladakh for setting up Entrepreneurship Development Cells in Colleges and a similar skill development workshop will held in Leh on 27th March.

Pertinently, the workshop aims to take forward the mantra of the Prime Minister for the youth to ‘skill, re skill and up skill’ to remain relevant in the rapidly changing business environment and market conditions.