Jammu & Kashmir leads ahead of all other states in self employment opportunities under Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Program (PMEGP). The Khadi and Village Industries Commission under its flagship program- PMEGP created 1.73 lakh new employment in 2021-22 in the Union Territory.
PMEGP scripted history by setting up 1.03 lakh new manufacturing and service units and creating over 8.25 lakh jobs in India in the year 2021-22. But this employment spree holds more relevance in J&K, as it will go a long way in controlling the militancy problem in the UT. Majority of the PMEGP units were set in militancy prone areas. KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena said that the employment spree bears testimony to the fact that people are participating in government schemes after abrogation of Article 370.
KVIC guides J&K to golden era of Job creation
In 2021-22, KVIC had set a target of 3,360 PMEGP units in J&K but buoyed by the Centre’s major push to local manufacturing, it exceeded the target by a massive 544%.
With 21,640 manufacturing and service units, J&K now stands way ahead of bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. Uttar Pradesh is trailing behind J&K with just 12,594 units.
These units have been established with a total capital of Rs 2,101 crore. The margin money subsidy disbursed by KVIC in J&K is also the highest among all states/UTs in the country.15 to 25 percent of total project cost is provided as a government subsidy called margin money. For beneficiaries belonging to special categories, margin money subsidy is higher.
PMEGP units in J&K
In 2021-22, a majority of the PMEGP units in J&K have been set up in districts like Baramula, Badgam, Pulwama, Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Bandipora and Doda that are largely prone to militancy.
As many as 16,807 (78%) of the 21,640 PMEGP units in J&K belong to the service sector, i.e. units like beauty parlour, boutiques, embroidery, mobile/computer repair shops, food outlets, etc. This is followed by 1,933 units (9%) under rural engineering and bio-technology like steel fabrication and steel furniture, artificial jewellery making, vermi-compost and bio-fertilizers units.
PMEGP in J&K- A temporal comparison
PMEGP was launched in 2008 and for the next 6 years, i.e. till 2013-14, KVIC had set up just 10,401 PMEGP units in J&K. Whereas, in the last eight years, 52,116 units were set up by KVIC.
Similarly, the total Margin Money subsidy disbursed by KVIC in J&K in 6 years (2008-09 to 2013-14) was a meagre Rs. 145 crore, whereas KVIC disbursed a whopping Rs 1,080 crore as Margin Money subsidy in the last 8 years (2014-15 to 2021-22).
Further, KVIC created a total of 85,719 employment under PMEGP in the first six years (2008-09 to 2013-14) whereas the last 8 years have seen a massive 4.10 lakh employment in J&K under PMEGP.
PMEGP e-portal
PMEGP e-portal https://www.kviconline.gov.in/pmegpeportal/pmegphome/index.jsp has been introduced from 1st July 2016.
Applicant has to apply on the online portal and he can track the status of his application on the PMEGP-e-portal. There is an online feedback mechanism for providing feedback by the beneficiaries.
WhatsApp us