Budgam, Sep 21 (KNO): Deputy Inspector General (Special Operations), of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Imtiaz Ismail Parray on Monday inaugurated a Civic Action Programme sponsored by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) at Nagam in Central Kashmir.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the programme was organized by the 14th Battalion of SSB with an aim to empower local youth through skill development, digital literacy, cyber security, disaster preparedness and financial awareness.
Devendra Kumar, Commandant 14th Battalion SSB, officers and personnel, representatives from Charar-i-Sharief and Government Degree College Chadoora were present during the inaugural ceremony.
Talking to the reporters on the sidelines of the function, DIG Imtiaz Ismail Parray said that the programme is sponsored by the MHA and is being conducted through the SSB with a focus on youth empowerment and enhancing their skills according to current professional and market requirements.
He said the present batch includes courses in cyber security, skill development, computer and data-entry skills, disaster preparedness and emergency response, and financial literacy. The training is being conducted in coordination with colleges and their administrations to provide students with practical and technical exposure.
“Today’s courses have been organised on professional lines, including cyber security, skill development and data entry. By coordinating with degree colleges and their administrations, we are providing this training to the youth, which will help them become technically sound and improve their future prospects,” the DIG said.
He added that the courses are designed after considering the current environment, market requirements and interests of students, following which eligible youth are shortlisted and selected for the training.
Under the programme, four integrated training programmes are being conducted, with 30 youth participating in each course, taking the total number of beneficiaries to 120, including 65 young women. The initiative seeks to provide participants with employability skills, safe digital practices, emergency-response awareness and basic financial knowledge.
DIG Parray said the initiative is not limited to one SSB unit or location, adding that similar programmes are being conducted by different units at their respective levels across the Kashmir Valley.
“This is only one location. We have different units, and all of them conduct such programmes at their own level. The number of students covered will be significantly large. Today, through three-four courses, we are covering almost 120 people, and across the Valley the number will be huge,” he said.
He said such initiatives, in the long run, would support and empower youth and help them secure better futures and opportunities—(KNO