Srinagar, Oct 13: Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the birthplace of the Purple Revolution, with nearly 7,000 to 8,000 youths gaining employment and livelihood opportunities through the Aroma Mission.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 13th Sustainable Mountain Development Summit and Agriculture Science Congress 2026 in Srinagar, Singh said the initiative had expanded beyond J&K to states including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Nagaland and Mizoram.
He said the government provides technological support, guidance and market linkages to people interested in lavender cultivation and other aromatic crops. Participants do not necessarily require advanced educational qualifications, as the initiative offers the necessary technical assistance and handholding.
Singh said the Aroma Mission was encouraging entrepreneurship and self-employment, adding that some young professionals from J&K had left corporate jobs in cities such as Bengaluru to pursue opportunities in the sector.
Congratulating the summit organisers, he said the event was being held in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time, bringing together scholars, students and experts from across the country.
He described the region's Himalayan landscape, rivers, glaciers and natural springs as an ideal setting for scientific research, while cautioning that its terrain also makes it vulnerable to natural disasters, including flash floods.
Recalling the 2014 floods in Srinagar and the cloudburst in Kishtwar's Chisoti area last year, Singh stressed the importance of strengthening disaster preparedness and weather monitoring.
He said the Ministry of Science and Technology had installed automatic weather stations across the region to improve forecasting and monitoring.
“Before 2014, there were only 17 radar stations in the country. Today, the number has increased to 50, and another 50 are being established under Mission Mausam announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he said.
The minister also highlighted scientific initiatives in J&K, including India's first capacity-building programme in glaciology at the University of Kashmir, and acknowledged the role of the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in advancing Himalayan research.
Singh said the combination of scientific innovation and livelihood-oriented initiatives could help Jammu and Kashmir strengthen its research capabilities, promote entrepreneurship and create sustainable employment opportunities.