Jammu Kashmir Formal Job Integration Expands Under PM-VBRY Scheme

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced a major expansion of social security and formal employment integration across Jammu Kashmir. Beneficiaries received substantial direct financial transfers under a flagship national employment initiative, marking an institutional shift to stabilize the regional labor market and secure worker livelihoods.

Srinagar: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narindra Modi for driving inclusive growth and expanding social security coverage in Jammu Kashmir, and for bringing transformative changes in the Union Territory’s employment landscape, enabling thousands of youths to access secure and dignified opportunities.

“This historic occasion is not merely a program for distributing financial benefits under a government scheme but it is also a celebration of Jammu & Kashmir’s transformative journey. It is a celebration of the dreams, aspirations, and opportunities that are giving a new direction to the lives of our youth today.

Prior to August 2019, workers in Jammu & Kashmir were deprived of the comprehensive social security protections. Following the implementation of the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1952 in the Union Territory in November 2019, lakhs of regional workers were integrated into the national social security fold for the first time,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

The Lieutenant Governor highlighted that under the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the Government of India has made continuous efforts to strengthen job creation and social security and ‘Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana’ stands as a historic example in this endeavor.

“The ‘Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana’ embodies the resolve to build a Viksit Bharat. It envisions an India where formal employment becomes the norm, social security reaches every citizen, and every young person gets the opportunity to realize their dreams.

The employment linked incentive scheme operates on two key pillars. The first pillar is dedicated to employees; providing direct financial incentives to young individuals entering the formal economy for the first time, encouraging them to remain within the organized sector. The second pillar is aimed at employers and support institutions and industries that expand their workforce and create new jobs.

When industries grow, employment opportunities increases and society prospers. It is estimated that through these two components, more than 3.5 crore employment opportunities across the country will be incentivized over the next two years. This is a sign of the positive transformation occurring in the lives of millions of families across India,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor stated that Jammu & Kashmir has capitalized on this opportunity exceptionally well. Today, over 3,300 local establishments are registered under the scheme, bringing more than 22,500 youths into the formal employment system for the first time and over 31,000 job openings have qualified for incentives, driving a direct positive transformation in the lives of more than 53,000 citizens.

He noted that during the specific territory-level distribution event, 1,522 individual workers secured direct financial incentives totaling ₹74 lakh. Concurrently, an aggregate sum of ₹25.42 crore was transferred electronically into the accounts of 304 verified employers to validate their labor force expansions.

The Lieutenant Governor commended the Employees Provident Fund Organisation for implementing significant reforms that align with the national visions of ‘Ease of Doing Business’ and ‘Ease of Living.’

He lauded the participating employers for becoming the vital partners in nation-building and also urged the remaining enterprises in the UT to register under the scheme.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) is a flagship Employment-Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme of the Government of India aimed at promoting formal employment, supporting first-time entrants into the organised workforce, and incentivising employers to create additional jobs. Under the Scheme, eligible first-time employees receive one month’s wage, up to ₹15,000, while employers are provided with incentives for a period of two years for generating additional employment. The manufacturing sector is eligible for extended support for an additional two years, thereby encouraging sustained job creation in labour-intensive industries.

The main event was broadcasted at different locations in Jammu Kashmir including Lok Bhavan Srinagar, Convention Centre Jammu, NIFT College SIDCO Industrial Complex, Ompora Budgam, and Bari Brahmana Industrial Association, Samba.

At Convention Centre Jammu, the programme was attended by Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha; Shri Sat Sharma, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and by more than 600 participants, including around 400 beneficiaries, more than 200 employers, industry association representatives, public representatives, senior State Government officials, and EPFO officers and staff.

20 employment letters were distributed by employers to newly employed members during the programme at Convention Centre, Jammu and 6 employment letters were distributed by employers to newly employed members at Bari Brahamana Industrial Association, Samba.

The employer representative expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity to represent employers on the occasion of the disbursement of benefits and thanked the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Ministry of Labour & Employment, Government of India for providing a platform to speak on behalf of employers receiving Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) directly into their bank accounts. He highlighted the positive impact of the scheme on industries and businesses and appealed to all eligible establishments to register under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) to avail themselves of the benefits.

The employee representative shared his experience regarding the benefits received under the scheme and appreciated the Government’s efforts to support workers through direct financial assistance.

Charandeep Singh, Labour Commissioner, J&K; Sumeet Singh, Regional Provident Fund Commissioner-I; beneficiaries, employers, industry association representatives, public representatives, senior officials, EPFO officers and staff also attended the programme at different venues in Jammu Kashmir.

Future Outlook

The rapid adoption of the PM-VBRY framework across Jammu Kashmir sets a foundation for total formalization of the regional industrial economy. By lowering structural hurdles for commercial enterprises through direct benefit allocations, federal administrators intend to transition volatile seasonal jobs into permanent, welfare-backed careers. The prolonged incentives earmarked for heavy manufacturing are expected to accelerate corporate investment in core industrial corridors like Samba and Budgam over the coming fiscal periods.

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana?

The initiative is a flagship employment-linked incentive program designed to expand formal job creation, provide direct financial support to citizens entering the organized workforce for the first time, and offer corporate subsidies to firms increasing their staffing levels.

How much financial compensation do first-time workers receive under PM-VBRY?

Eligible first-time corporate signees receive an initial single-month wage benefit capped at a maximum of ₹15,000 delivered via automated direct banking channels.

What unique commercial advantages are provided to the manufacturing sector under this initiative?

Firms operating inside labor-intensive manufacturing fields can access extended corporate financial subsidies for an additional two years beyond the standard baseline window to secure long-term industrial workforce stability.

When were regional workers in Jammu Kashmir formally integrated into the national provident fund system?

Regional industrial laborers were officially integrated into the domestic framework in November 2019 following the statutory extension of the Employees’ Provident Fund and Miscellaneous Provisions Act to the Union Territory.