Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj, Cooperative and Election Department Javid Ahmad Dar, today lauded Himayat for creating a unique platform that offers rural youth an opportunity to shape their skills and build independent futures.

While speaking at the Himayat Alumni Meet 2025 in Srinagar, where several beneficiaries shared their success stories, the Minister said most participants came from humble backgrounds and had advanced in life through resilience and determination. “Himayat is a unique platform that offers rural youth an opportunity to shape their skills and build independent futures,” he noted.

He added that in today’s world, academic qualifications alone are not enough, skill is the real currency.

The Minister urged that skill development should extend to modern farming techniques, soil testing, livestock care, and even the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture. “If we train our youth in these areas, it can spark a real revolution,” he said.

Citing inspiring success stories of Himayat trainees, Dar said every individual must write their own journey of achievement despite hardships. Encouraging the youth, he quoted: “The essential thing in life is not conquering, but fighting back.”

He emphasized that honesty, hard work, and discipline as the foundations of lasting success. “Shortcuts never bring real achievements. Competition should be faced with courage and preparation,” he stressed.

Dar also called for regular personality development training alongside skill trades to boost youth confidence. He congratulated the participants and lauded the Seva Parv initiative, running from September 17 to October 2 across the country, as a platform to highlight grassroots progress and youth empowerment.

“Every household faces difficulties, but we must overcome them, polish our skills, and move forward,” the Minister said.

Secretary, Rural Development Department (RDD) & Panchayati Raj, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, in his remarks, said the event was not merely an alumni meet but a journey that reflected “stories of struggle and success” of youth from remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir who through the Himayat Mission, have found their path to self-reliance.

“The alumni who shared their journeys today are a source of inspiration for the trainees present here. It shows that Himayat is not just training but also a ray of hope and a path to success,” he noted.

The Secretary emphasized that the government is not only imparting skills but also committed to tracking the post-training journey of candidates, ensuring placements and further interventions wherever needed. He congratulated the Himayat Mission team for sustaining this engagement and called for more such alumni meets in the future.

He announced that Himayat 2.0 will soon be rolled out with additional training sectors, including agriculture, dairy, horticulture, and farming. “By adding these sectors, we aim to give rural youth more opportunities and pathways for success,” he said.

Linking the programme to the nationwide Seva Parv initiative launched by the Prime Minister on September 17, Asad said the campaign, running till October 2, seeks to connect people with various schemes and highlight stories of empowerment.

Chief Operating Officer, Himayat, Rajneesh Gupta, also shared key insights into the program’s impact during the Alumni Meet, underscoring its role in empowering youth across Jammu and Kashmir. “As of now, Himayat has trained more than 34,000 candidates and approximately 15,000 of them have been successfully employed,” he informed.

The event was attended by Director RDD Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat; Chief Executive Officer, IWMP, Rajnish Kumar; and other officers.