Marginalised communities need to embrace entrepreneurship over government jobs: Jitendra Singh
Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday called on members of marginalised communities to look beyond traditional dependence on government employment and actively pursue entrepreneurship opportunities.
Presiding over the launch of the Jammu and Kashmir chapter of the Ambedkar Chamber of Commerce here, the minister of state in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) called for fostering an entrepreneurial mindset and an investment-oriented approach among the Scheduled Caste (SC) community and other weaker sections.
He urged them to actively leverage the schemes rolled out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to drive sustainable economic growth and self-reliance.
“The government has created a wholesome system for weaker sections, including SCs and Scheduled Tribes, for hand-holding and supporting them right from an early age… the members of marginalised sections should move beyond reliance solely on government employment and actively explore opportunities in entrepreneurship and enterprise development,” Singh said.
Highlighting the Union government’s initiatives, he said a series of targeted schemes have been introduced with a central focus on the upliftment of weaker sections of society.
He described the Jan Dhan scheme as a financial inclusion initiative and the MUDRA loan scheme as a transformative step in enabling access to credit.
He also referred to the Vishwakarma Yojana, aimed at preserving traditional crafts while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, in this regard.
Singh said statistical evidence reflects the positive impact of these schemes on the socio-economic advancement of Dalits and other marginalised groups.
He said there is a visible rise in aspirations among these communities, pointing out that candidates from humble backgrounds are increasingly succeeding in competitive examinations, including civil services.
Referring to the elevation of an adivasi woman as the President of India, he said it is a reflection of social empowerment.
Singh underlined the importance of creating greater awareness about government welfare schemes to ensure maximum outreach and benefit. He highlighted initiatives such as Vigyan Jyoti, aimed at promoting scientific temper and innovation among girls.
Referring to regional efforts, the minister mentioned khadi promotion camps organised in Udhampur district, where subsidies amounting to Rs 50 crore were distributed in a single day.
He said the beneficiaries largely came from Kashmir and stressed the need to expand awareness about such opportunities.
