Srinagar, Jul 19: In a major push to empower youth under the J&K Government’s flagship Mission YUVA (MY), J&K Bank on Friday organised day-long entrepreneurship-focused events titled ‘Roz-e-YUVA’ in Kashmir and ‘Udyami YUVA Day’ in Jammu across various districts of the Union Territory.
Hundreds of aspiring entrepreneurs were handed over loan sanction letters at designated venues across the UT, with the bank announcing that such events will now be held weekly throughout the Mission YUVA campaign.
The main function was held at Government Degree College, Ganderbal, where J&K Bank MD & CEO Amitava Chatterjee distributed sanction letters among youth in the presence of Mission Director Shahzad Alam and Deputy Commissioner Jatin Kishore. Also present were senior officials of the Bank and district administration, including GDC Principal Dr. Fouzia Naqshbandi, GM CAM Ashutosh Sareen, Divisional Head (Kashmir) Shabir Ahmad, Zonal Head (Budgam) Fayaz Ahmad Bhat, DGMs Rakesh Magotra and Tanveer Hussain Farooqi, and other senior officers.
Speaking on the occasion, Chatterjee termed Mission YUVA as a transformational initiative and reaffirmed the Bank’s full support. “Mission YUVA reflects the shared vision of inclusive growth and youth-driven development. J&K Bank is fully aligned with this goal and will continue to assist aspiring entrepreneurs through financial and institutional support,” he said.
He added that the Bank is committed to making the entire process smooth and beneficiary-centric. “These loans are not just transactions—they are investments in the future of J&K’s economy,” Chatterjee said, urging beneficiaries to use the funds effectively to build sustainable livelihoods.
Mission Director Shahzad Alam lauded J&K Bank’s proactive partnership in implementing the mission. “This collaboration demonstrates what focused public-private efforts can achieve. The presence of the Bank’s top leadership today is a reflection of their deep commitment to the youth of this region,” he said.
DC Ganderbal Jatin Kishore praised the initiative and said such outreach events are crucial to bring opportunities to the grassroots. He added that the district administration is working to ensure artisans and entrepreneurs, especially from traditional sectors, are credit-linked under Mission YUVA to help them scale up.
GM CAM Ashutosh Sareen briefed the gathering about the seamless, app-based registration process and the Bank’s extensive counselling and handholding support for beneficiaries.
Earlier, in his welcome address, Divisional Head Shabir Ahmad described the event as a shared commitment to building an ecosystem that fosters entrepreneurship and employment generation across J&K.
Dozens of first-time entrepreneurs in Ganderbal received loan sanction letters during the event. Similar programmes were simultaneously held in Srinagar, Kupwara, Rajouri and other districts, where youth were handed loan approvals and given detailed guidance about the schemes under Mission YUVA.
