Srinagar, Oct 13 (KNO): Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the birthplace of the Purple Revolution, with nearly 7,000 to 8,000 youths finding employment and livelihood opportunities through the Aroma Mission.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit and Agriculture Science Congress 2026 in Srinagar, Singh, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the summit was being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, bringing together scholars, students and experts from across the country.
Congratulating the organisers, he said Jammu and Kashmir's unique Himalayan landscape, with its rivers, glaciers and natural springs, makes it an ideal destination for scientific research and academic activities.
He, however, noted that the region's terrain also makes it vulnerable to natural disasters such as flash floods. Recalling the 2014 floods that inundated Srinagar and the cloudburst in Kishtwar's Chisoti area last year, Singh stressed the need for stronger disaster preparedness.
To improve weather forecasting and monitoring, he said the Ministry of Science and Technology has installed automatic weather stations across the region.
"Before 2014, there were only 17 radar stations in the country. Today, the number has increased to 50, and another 50 are being established under Mission Mausam announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said.
Singh said several scientific projects have been launched in Jammu and Kashmir, including India's first capacity-building programme in glaciology at the University of Kashmir. He also highlighted the role of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehradun, in advancing Himalayan research.
Referring to the Purple Revolution, Singh said the Aroma Mission, which originated in Jammu and Kashmir, has expanded to Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Mizoram.
"Jammu and Kashmir has established a distinct identity across the country as the birthplace of the Purple Revolution. Nearly 7,000 to 8,000 youths have found new avenues of employment through this initiative," he said.
The Union Minister said the government provides technological support, guidance and market linkages to people interested in lavender cultivation and related activities. He added that advanced educational qualifications are not necessary, as participants receive technology and handholding support from the government.
Singh also said several young professionals from Jammu and Kashmir have left corporate jobs in cities such as Bengaluru to pursue opportunities under the Aroma Mission, which is fostering entrepreneurship, self-employment and sustainable livelihoods in the region—(KNO)