Jammu and Kashmir is intensifying its efforts to enhance youth employability through the Prime Minister’s Internship Scheme (PMIS). Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo recently chaired a meeting to evaluate the scheme’s progress and devise strategies to expand its reach and impact throughout the Union Territory.
The meeting saw the participation of key officials, including the Commissioner Secretary of the School Education Department, the Secretary of the Employment and Skill Development Departments, and the Managing Director of the Skill Development Mission. Additionally, the Director of PMIS from the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India, contributed via video conferencing. As per information available with TahirRihat.com, the Chief Secretary emphasized the importance of PMIS in equipping young individuals with industry experience, offering structured internship opportunities within reputable companies.
Launched under the Union Budget 2024–25, PMIS provides internships lasting six to nine months. Interns receive a monthly stipend of ₹9,000, along with a one-time grant of ₹6,000, (the Chief Secretary noted).
During the review, officials noted that Jammu and Kashmir has seen a promising initial response, with over 4,400 young people registering on the PMIS portal and more than 2,800 completing their profiles. However, the number of internship opportunities available in the Union Territory currently stands at only 68, despite J&K’s high registration numbers.
Chief Secretary Dulloo stressed the need to close the gap between registrations and available internships. He advocated for increased engagement with industries, urging the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to play an active role in facilitating opportunities within J&K. He said that securing greater participation from companies is vital to ensure that registered youth can benefit meaningfully from the scheme.
The department has been directed to significantly increase registration efforts, with an ambitious target of reaching at least 200,000 registrations across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir. According to officials, this goal can be achieved through a focused approach that involves educational institutions, employment centers, and community-level outreach programs.
Acknowledging the challenge posed by the limited presence of major corporate entities in the Union Territory, the Chief Secretary also emphasized the importance of scaling up internship opportunities for youth across all states and Union Territories in the country. To address the existing imbalance between demand and availability, he called for proactive collaboration with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to increase the number of internships to at least 1,000 in the near future.
The Chief Secretary has mandated the integration of PMIS registration with institutional frameworks, including Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), polytechnics, and colleges, to maximize the program’s reach among eligible youth. He further advocated for the active involvement of District Employment & Counselling Centres, Common Service Centres, and placement cells in streamlining the registration process.
Kumar Rajeev Ranjan, Secretary of the Skill Development Department (SDD), briefed the meeting on a 100-day roadmap designed to significantly boost registrations and improve overall outcomes. The plan aims to secure 20,000 registrations in its initial phase, employing a structured approach that includes campus recruitment drives, establishment of help desks, mass awareness campaigns, and the deployment of mobile registration units to remote areas.
According to Secretary Ranjan, a central element of the strategy involves aligning with Mission YUVA to leverage its extensive youth database and community network. He stated that Mission YUVA has already identified over 473,000 young people willing to work, and approximately 2,000 YUVA Doots will be mobilized to conduct door-to-door awareness and registration drives across all districts.
To ensure effective oversight, departments have been instructed to conduct regular reviews and implement real-time tracking of progress through digital platforms. The Chief Secretary emphasized that any obstacles encountered should be promptly addressed.
The Chief Secretary emphasized the transformative potential of the scheme, asserting that PMIS can play a crucial role in bridging the gap between education and employment. He concluded that this initiative holds the key to preparing the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to meet the demands of the modern job market.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.