Srinagar, Jul 28: “You are not merely job-seekers. You are the makers of India’s future. In your hands rests your career as well as the direction of the nation’s development. You are the strength of Skill India, the face of Digital India, and the true bearers of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Tuesday.
He was addressing the aspiring youth and representatives from leading industries at the 77th State-Level Mega Job Fair, held at Amar Singh College, Srinagar. The LG described the job fair as a powerful means of connecting the aspirations of youth with opportunities and an important step toward building the nation’s bright future.
Organised by Desh Bhagat University, Punjab, and Cluster University, Srinagar, in collaboration with NIELIT, Nations Development Association (NDA), and MY Bharat, the Mega Job Fair brought together more than 50 reputed companies across diverse sectors including information technology, healthcare, banking, financial services, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, education, logistics, and engineering.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined six key objectives: ensure meaningful employment for youth to become self-reliant and contribute to society; pave the way for industry-academia partnerships to bridge the gap between degrees and workplace skills; ensure skill development programmes are aligned with digital literacy and technical capabilities; create a roadmap for simplified recruitment through on-the-spot interviews and direct hiring; promote entrepreneurship to encourage job creators alongside job seekers, and prepare a future-ready workforce to strengthen India’s development journey.
Sinha urged students to embrace three guiding principles: never make dreams small, never stop learning, and always embrace innovation. “Dream big and focus on new discoveries. The future belongs to those who seek new solutions, develop new thinking, and lead change. Success is meaningful only when achieved with ethics and responsibility,” he said.
The LG stressed that colleges and universities must evolve into institutions that prepare students for life beyond examinations. He called upon industry representatives to act as recruiters, mentors, and partners in shaping the future workforce. “If industry and education work together, we can create an environment where knowledge and experience strengthen each other, and innovation and employment advance together,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor underscored the growing interest of youth in entrepreneurship, citing that since 2020, lakhs of youth became entrepreneurs. He recalled that the Union Territory led the country in PMEGP in 2021–22 and expressed confidence that the UT will carve a new identity in innovation, startups, and modern industries.
He said that unemployment cannot be solved through government jobs alone, outlining three priorities: aligning skills with industry needs, promoting private sector job creation through MSMEs and SMEs, and bridging the transition from college to workplace through internships, mentorships, and career guidance.
“Let us resolve that this 77th Mega Job Fair will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the employment history of Jammu Kashmir,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
The event was attended by Commissioner Secretary Higher Education Ram Niwas Sharma, Cluster University of Srinagar Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammad Mobin, Cluster University of Jammu Vice Chancellor Prof K.S. Chandrasekar, IUST Vice Chancellor Prof Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Desh Bhagat University President Dr Sandeep Singh, Amar Singh College Principal Prof Tehmina Yousuf, senior officials, representatives of leading industries, heads of educational institutes, and a large number of youth.
