Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reviewed the “Youth Engagement: Building Tomorrow’s Leaders” framework, aimed at empowering Jammu and Kashmir’s youth through sports, culture, education, entrepreneurship, and digital innovation.

The meeting included Principal Secretary Culture, Commissioner Secretaries of GAD, Youth Services & Sports, Floriculture, Secretaries of School Education, Health, Skill Development, and other senior officials.
Terming the initiative a significant step for nurturing creativity and leadership, the Chief Secretary emphasized multidisciplinary engagement aligned with individual talents. He directed departments and Deputy Commissioners to prepare strategic and district-specific action plans for effective implementation.
The Planning Department was designated the nodal agency for monitoring, with GAD framing a Steering Committee for inter-departmental coordination. Leveraging national-level schemes like My Bharat, NSS, Youth Exchange Activities, and Viksit Bharat Young Leaders Dialogue was highlighted to provide exposure and skill-building opportunities.
Director General Planning, Satvir Kour, said the programme aims to equip youth with life skills, confidence, and values, steering them away from vulnerabilities such as substance abuse and unemployment.
The Strategic Action Plan focuses on multiple dimensions:
Sports & Cultural Development: Reviving traditional arts, festivals, and performances while creating livelihood opportunities.
Education & Skill Development: Making vocational training accessible, market-relevant, and skill-oriented.
Entrepreneurship & Business Development: Expanding access to startups, incubation centres, and financial assistance through schemes like PMEGP, REGP, NRLM, and Startup J&K.
Digital Engagement: Promoting online learning, webinars, and innovation contests connecting rural youth with experts.
DDCs will identify two socio-economically backward blocks per district to prepare targeted youth engagement plans. Extensive awareness campaigns on government welfare schemes were also emphasized.
The meeting concluded with a resolve to make youth empowerment a collective mission, integrating all departments to channel the potential of young citizens towards a vibrant and progressive Jammu and Kashmir.