One day workshop on Youth Entrepreneurship was held by the Economic Panel of Majlis Ulma Imamia J&K on 18th June 2023 at Ali Abad Gund Hassi Bhat Srinagar in which a sizable number of youth participated.
Moulana Shiekh Ghulam Hussain Mattoo Islamic Scholar who heads the Economic Panel in his opening remarks said that Islam encourages to undertake entrepreneurship as our Prophets and Imams worked themselves in fields, reared animals and engaged in other economic activities. He said the working hands will be honoured and rewarded on the day of judgement. He further said that no one from outside will come to solve our economic problem. The youth should come forward and establish their own enterprises to earn their livelihood and provide employment to others rather than become job seekers.
Masarat Maqbool Certified Coach and Psychology Student talked about the psychological constraints that stop youth to become an entrepreneur. She said fear of future and self doubt are some examples of mental blockages that prevent youth to come forward and chose self employment as their career option. She advised youth to correct their mindset and look towards the positive side of things.
Tasaduq Hussain a Civil Engineer said that entrepreneurship is the only solution to present unemployment and job crisis in the valley. He laid stress on reviving the small scale industries in which our ancestors were engaged in homes.
Zeeshan Ali running a construction agency said that in the past entrepreneurs were in every household and people did not face the problem of unemployment. He advised the youth not to go for private jobs instead engage themselves in the self employment by taking small but viable projects in hand.
Shahid Abbas Mir Director Innovations and Entrepreneurship asked the youth to come up with new ideas and convert them in reality. He impressed upon the youth to upgrade their skill to meet the market requirements.
Mohammad Yaqoob Coordinator of Economic Panel said to become an entrepreneur means to take a big responsibility for which the youth have to come out of hopelessness, disappointment, laziness and believe in their potential which Allah SWT has blessed them.
Dr Touseef Ahmad Chairman IT and Startups, Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries who was the Chief Guest said that the flow of information on social media is a problem for the young entrepreneurs which can mislead them. He asked the youth to do market research before taking any project in hand to ensure its economic viability. He advised them to inculcate moral values like anger management, respect to others and patience which are a pre-requisite to become an entrepreneur. He further called upon the youth to work with passion in the field of entrepreneurship.
Moulana Shiekh Ghulam Rasool Noori Chairman Majlis Ulma Imamia J&K in his concluding remarks said that Islam doesn’t stop from having a better economic life rather it prohibits from living a life of humiliation. He urged the youth to earn an honest living and remain steadfast in their path of attaining economic self-sufficiency.
At the end Question/Answer session was held in which youth interested to take up business and enterprises put a number of questions to which the experts replied in detail and misgivings about entrepreneurship were removed from their minds. Awareness/ guidance about how to become a successful startup was given to them.
Syed Amjid Rizvi Social Entrepreneur, Environmental Activist & Sports Promoter managed the stage and did the anchoring.
It was resolved to hold such workshops in future also.