Dream big, focus on new discoveries: Lt Governor to youth

Srinagar, Jul 28: The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha Tuesday addressed aspiring youth and representatives from leading industries at the 77th State-Level Mega Job Fair, held at Amar Singh College, Srinagar. Organised by Desh Bhagat University, Punjab & Cluster University, Srinagar in collaboration with NIELIT, Nations Development Association (NDA) and MY Bharat, the Mega Job Fair aims to directly connect youth with industries. The 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.
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor described the job fair as a powerful means of connecting the aspirations of the youth with opportunities, and as an important step toward building the nation’s bright future.
“This is a platform where dreams meet direction, where education meets industry, and where the foundation of a new Jammu Kashmir is being strengthened,” he said.
Highlighting the participation of thousands of registered students, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized that the greatest value of such initiatives lies in the confidence they instill in young people.
“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,” the Lieutenant Governor told the aspirants.
The Lieutenant Governor also outlined six key objectives of the Mega Job Fair. He said the fair will ensure meaningful employment for youth to become self-reliant and contribute to society. It will also pave the way for Industry-academia partnerships to bridge the gap between degrees and workplace skills. The Lieutenant Governor said that the Job Fair will ensure that skill development programmes are aligned with digital literacy and technical capabilities and a roadmap will be created for simplified recruitment through on-the-spot interviews and direct hiring. He said the Job fair will also ensure entrepreneurship promotion to encourage job creators alongside job seekers and it will prepare a future-ready workforce to strengthen India’s development journey.
The Lieutenant Governor 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 Lieutenant Governor stressed that colleges and universities must evolve into institutions that prepare students for life beyond examinations.
“Education should not be confined to classrooms. It must prepare every student to begin life’s journey with confidence, skills, and practical understanding,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also 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 further emphasized that unemployment cannot be solved through government jobs alone, as government vacancies are limited. Instead, he outlined 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.
Ram Niwas Sharma, Commissioner/Secretary, Higher Education Department; Prof. Mohammad Mobin, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Srinagar; Prof. K.S. Chandrasekar, Vice Chancellor, Cluster University of Jammu; Prof. Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, Vice Chancellor, IUST; Dr. Sandeep Singh, President of Desh Bhagat University; Prof. Tehmina Yousuf, Principal, Amar Singh College, senior officials, representatives of leading industries, heads of educational institutes, and youth in large number were present.