Port Blair, Sept. 2: In its effort to make Andaman & Nicobar Islands Berozgar Mukth, the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration, Shri Keshav Chandra, IAS has decided to conduct outreach self-employment motivation camps starting from this month, especially in remote Islands like Car Nicobar, Nancowry, Campbell Bay and in all Tehsil Headquarters of Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This decision was taken in the 94th Board meeting of the A&N Islands Khadi & Village Industries Board held under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary (Chairman of KVIB) on 1st Sept., 2023.

All unemployed/under employed youth of A & N Islands can avail the benefit of this campaign aimed at self-employment through Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme and different schemes of Industries, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Co-operative Department, etc. The Board has also decided to enhance loan targets under PMEGP and to keep open the targets to accommodate all unemployed aspirant. 

The Chief Secretary further emphasized the need to take on board the elected representatives of Panchayats and Chairman of Tribal Councils to motivate beneficiaries intending to setup self-employment ventures in the fields of manufacturing and services sector of their respective areas. The beneficiaries thus identified would be linked with the PMEGP scheme & loan/subsidy schemes of different Departments and guided to establish their own enterprises.

A calendar for organizing special awareness campaigns to disseminate information on the PMEGP schemes and other schemes will be notified shortly. It was also decided to encourage local artisans and to promote market for locally made food products by providing space in depots of Agriculture Department.