The Centre plans to provide jobs to nearly 7,000 youth from Jammu and Kashmir during the current fiscal under the 'Himayat' scheme, a job-oriented skill development project launched last year. This was disclosed by Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh yesterday.

Addressing a group of beneficiaries in Mohali near Chandigarh yesterday, Mr. Ramesh said, jobs have already been given to 1,700 beneficiaries ever since the programme was launched in December last year.

Mr Ramesh said, nearly 2,000 youth will get appointment letters for various jobs this month under the scheme which mostly covers school and college dropouts and those from poor financial background.

He also said, the Centre intends to have training centres in all 140 blocks of Jammu & Kashmir.