Entrepreneurship, Self-Employment Crucial for Economic Growth: LG Kavinder

KARGIL: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on thursday underscored that entrepreneurship and self-employment are vital pillars of economic growth, job creation and innovation. He said these sectors not only generate wealth but also raise the standard of living and drive competitiveness and creativity in society.

The Lt Governor was addressing the culmination ceremony of Phase 1 of the Jan Hit Campaign organised by the District Administration Kargil at Hussaini Park, which witnessed enthusiastic participation from the public, self-help groups, artisans, youth and beneficiaries of centrally-sponsored schemes.

Commending the District Administration for the effective implementation of welfare programmes and visible progress achieved over the last 100 days, the Lt Governor emphasised that centrally-sponsored schemes play a key role in ensuring equitable development, particularly for marginalised communities and underdeveloped regions. Such programmes, he said, address a wide range of social and economic challenges and serve as tools for poverty alleviation, infrastructure development and human capital formation.

The Lt Governor urged the administration to intensify awareness campaigns among youth, women and artisans to ensure maximum participation in government schemes and enable people to enhance their livelihoods.

“Not everyone can be provided with a government job; therefore, the focus must be on skill development and self-employment opportunities,” the Lt Governor asserted.

Reiterating the commitment of the Government of India and the UT Administration to holistic and inclusive development, Kavinder Gupta highlighted that 70 entrepreneurs have already benefited under the PMEGP and PMFME schemes, terming it a “positive step toward economic empowerment.” He also informed that 30 loan cases were recently sanctioned, reflecting the administration’s proactive approach to public welfare and economic growth.

The Lt Governor lauded the ‘Aspiration to Inspiration – From Block to District’ initiative, calling it a transformative step to foster innovation and self-reliance at the grassroots level. He also launched the e-portal for the programme, marking an important stride toward digitisation and accessibility of government initiatives.

Expressing satisfaction over progress in key sectors including agriculture, horticulture, fisheries and health, the Lt Governor congratulated the District Administration and concerned departments for their efforts and achievements.

Earlier, the Lt Governor, accompanied by CEC LAHDC Kargil Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, MP Ladakh Mohammad Hanifa Jan, Executive Councillors and other dignitaries, visited various stalls set up at the camp. He interacted with officials and beneficiaries and reviewed the implementation of schemes at the ground level.

In his remarks, CEC Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon appreciated the District Administration for organising the campaign, stating that such initiatives strengthen grassroots governance and bridge the gap between people and administration, ensuring transparency and efficiency in service delivery.

MP Mohammad Hanifa Jan praised the coordinated efforts of the officers, noting that the Jan Hit Campaign has played a crucial role in spreading awareness about government welfare schemes and enabling people to avail their benefits. He assured full support for ongoing and future development projects in Kargil.

Deputy Commissioner Kargil, Rakesh Kumar, briefed the gathering on the objectives and outcomes of the ‘Aspiration to Inspiration: Block to District’ programme, while the General Manager, DIC Kargil, shared the key achievements of the Jan Hit Campaign.

The event concluded with the distribution of sanction letters, certificates and awards among beneficiaries and achievers. The ceremony marked a major milestone in the District Administration’s outreach and public welfare initiatives, reaffirming the government’s commitment to inclusive growth, entrepreneurship, and participatory governance in Ladakh.