Jammu and Kashmir’s youth are finding new hope through a groundbreaking government-backed program. The Assistant Bookkeeping Training course is not only free but comprehensive, equipping participants with industry-ready skills at no personal expense.
Housed under the Jammu & Kashmir Skill Development Mission, the course spans essential topics like double-entry bookkeeping, payroll processing, tax filings, and advanced Excel for finance. Trainers from certified institutes deliver 120 hours of intensive sessions over 12 weeks.
Fully funded, it eliminates barriers for underprivileged youth. ‘We provide everything – from certification to job linkages,’ explained program head Suman Lata. Stipends of ₹5,000 monthly ensure participants focus without financial stress.
Placement records are impressive: 85% of the inaugural cohort landed jobs within 30 days, with salaries ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹25,000. Take Farooq Ahmed, a 25-year-old from Anantnag, who transitioned from odd jobs to a full-time role at a Srinagar-based export house.
This effort addresses the acute shortage of qualified accounts assistants in J&K’s growing economy. With sectors like handicrafts, horticulture, and tourism booming, trained bookkeepers are in high demand. Future expansions include advanced modules in forensic accounting and digital auditing.
As the program scales to 2,000 trainees annually, it’s proving that strategic investments in vocational training can break cycles of unemployment and foster economic resilience.