Jammu, Mar 5: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday chaired a preliminary meeting to discuss the formulation of an action plan for Mission SKILL in Jammu and Kashmir, aiming to equip youth with market-relevant skills through a structured, mission-mode approach.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, senior bureaucrats, Vice Chancellors of Jammu and Kashmir universities, and directors of premier institutions including IIT and IIM, along with officials from various government departments.
Addressing the participants, the Chief Minister highlighted the gap between traditional education and evolving job market requirements. “Formal education often does not equip students with skills required in the job market or as entrepreneurs. Mission SKILL seeks to bridge that gap,” he said.
He emphasized the need for a large-scale, structured approach to address the skill deficit and urged officials to begin skill development from early stages of schooling. Pointing to rapidly evolving technologies, he noted, “Three or four years ago, few of us were discussing artificial intelligence. Today, tools like ChatGPT and Gemini have transformed everyday life, and we must prepare youth for such emerging technologies.”
The Chief Minister appreciated the efforts of the Labour & Employment Department in preparing the initial framework and stressed the importance of a clear implementation roadmap with defined timelines and resource allocation. He also highlighted the need for collaboration with universities, academic institutions, and the private sector to ensure sustainable outcomes.
Secretary Labour & Employment Kumar Rajeev Ranjan presented the proposed action plan for Mission SKILL, detailing its objectives, institutional framework, and phased implementation strategy. The plan aims to align education with market demands, strengthen public-private-academic partnerships, and create a sustainable ecosystem to enhance employability and entrepreneurship opportunities across Jammu and Kashmir.
Participants provided feedback and suggestions to refine the framework, ensuring effective rollout and successful implementation of Mission SKILL in the Union Territory.