Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (I/C), Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr. Jitendra Singh on December 20, 2019, said the private sector is making a beeline for investment in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Within two months of the changed administrative landscape in the newly carved out Union Territory, the private sector is coming in a big way to tap the potential of the youth and economy,”Dr Singh said during a presentation made by Shyamal Mukherjee, Chairman, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC), a leading multinational consultancy firm, London, here.
PWC is soon to undertake a campus recruitment campaign at Jammu University, Katra. It will undertake similar campus placement exercises in University of Kashmir and NIT, Srinagar; IIM, IIT and Government College of Engineering & Technology in Jammu, and Institute of Technology, Zakura, besides the UT of Ladakh. Mukherjee said the PWC will not only tap the local talent in J&K UT, but also provide mentorship and career counselling to the students besides enhancing employability skills.
“Initially, the campaign will run for graduate and post-graduate students, but slowly such programmes will be launched at 10+2 level,” said Mukherjee. Imparting soft skills and behavioural workshops are also in the pipeline, he added.
Lauding PWC for taking the lead, Dr Singh said this campaign will not result in any additional burden to the exchequer as there is no financial liability for the UT Administration. “The psychological hurdle of Article 370 was so huge, the private industry was reluctant to invest in the erstwhile state of J&K,” Dr Singh said. “Now that this barrier has been breached under the able leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the opportunities for development and prosperity are opening up,” he added.
Dr Singh directed the officials to firm up the proposal and roll out the campaign in consultation with Secretary, Higher Education, according to a PIB release.
In November 2019, a Regional Conference on ‘ Replication of Good Governance Practices in UTs of J&K and Ladakh” was organized in Jammu as a precursor to the upcoming initiatives which will be undertaken in these two UTs of J&K and Ladakh under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi.