'Umeed' scheme for women to cover four blocks of J-K: Ramesh

More than nine lakh women in Jammu and Kashmir are to be organised under 90,000 Self-Help Groups in the coming five years as part of the 'Umeed' programme launched in the state, Union minister Jairam Ramesh said today.
The minister for rural development also announced that the government would train and ensure jobs for 15,000 youths under another programme, the 'Himayat' scheme, which had already provided employment opportunities for 5,200 youths.
"Over nine lakh women will be organised under 90,000 women's self help groups (Mahila Sahayata Samuh) in the next five years in four blocks of the state," Ramesh said at a function at Pampore, 14-km from here, which was also attended by J-K chief minister Omar Abdullah.

The 'Umeed' scheme has been launched in the Lar, Khanshahib, Basholi and Chenani blocks of the state.
Talking about the Himayat scheme, the minister said that "there are more than 900 youths who, after being trained under the programme, are working successfully in various companies outside the state".
Ramesh said that while creating job opportunities within the state for youth trained under Himayat, attention was also being given to tapping the job market outside the state.

In that regard, Ramesh added that the relocation allowance for youths trained under Himayat working outside the state had been modified from Rs 1,000 for two months to Rs 2,000 for six months for each employee.

Stating that the allowance would be further examined, Ramesh announced that each youth completing one year of service in a private company under the Himayat scheme would be given a tablet computer.
Ramesh and Abdullah later handed over placement letters to trainees who had completed their training at the Jammu and Kashmir Entrepreneurship Development Institute under Himayat scheme.