SRINAGAR, MAY 27: At least 20 young skilled youth from Jammu and Kashmir have been selected for regional level India Skill Competition 2018, Minister for Higher Education, Technical Education and Information Technology, Molvi Imran Raza Ansari said today.
Ansari earlier flagged off the candidates for their participation at the regional level skill competition. The participating candidates will further compete at the national level skill competition which will be held in July, 2018, leading to their participation in the World Skills Competition-Russia, 2019. He said that in order to aim at engaging different stakeholders in skill building, entrepreneurship and grassroots innovations, the government recently held a two-day skill and entrepreneurship conclave, first-of-its-kind event in the state. The maiden conclave TALAASH was themed as “Building Human Capital: Skill-Innovation-Entrepreneurship”. He lauded the role of Jammu and Kashmir Skill Development Mission for launching hunt to spot young talent and identify the skilled youth and work for their further improvement.
The Minister said that government is mulling to strengthen ITI’s and other skill initiatives, which offer skills at a lower level. However the Higher Education has been a challenge and the government is mulling that degrees being offered at graduation, masters and doctoral levels be given some vocational orientation.
According to Mission Director, Jammu and Kashmir Skill Mission, Dr Peer Ghulam Nabi Suhail, a team of skilled candidates from Jammu and Kashmir will be participating in the regional level skills competition to be held at Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh from 31st Mayto 2nd June, 2018 under World Skills India, which is an initiative of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India. He said candidates qualifying the regionals will qualify for the national level competition leading to World Skills Competition-Russia, 2019. He said that apart from J&K, the following states will be participating in the regional level skill competition: Uttar Pradesh (II) Uttarakhand (III) Chandigarh (IV) Punjab.
The winners of the regional level skill competition will further participate in the national level skill competitions leading to the World Skills Competition to be held at Kazan, Russia in 2019.
Brief introduction of the selected youth
Majid Ahmad (Skill: Carpentry)
Majid is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in the arts stream at Government College, Ganderbal. Earlier, Majid, 21, of Wahid Pora, Ganderbal has completed an ITI course in carpentry. Apart from the studies, Majid is supporting his father Ghulam Ahmad Najar in his carpentry workshop. “I have imbibed the skill of carpentry from my father and I would not let this skill go waste,” said Majid.
Mohammad Ameen (Skill: Patisserie and Confectionery)
State level winner in the patisserie and confectionery skill, Mohammad Ameen, 19, of Brain, Nishat left his studies after 10th class and started supporting his father who is a gardener by profession. Ameen had previously attended hospitality and housekeeping programs and is currently employed with Le-Delice, the French Bakery, Srinagar. Owner of Le-Delice Saqib Mir encouraged Ameen for the competition.
Ikhjot Singh (Skill: Automobile Technology)
A final year student of three-year diploma in mechanical engineering at NITS-Polytechnic, Jammu, Ikhjot, 18, of Narwal, Jammu won the state level competition in automobile technology. Though his subject specialisation is Mechanical CAD, Ikhjot has interest in Mechanical Thermodynamics and Automobile Technology and some portions of it were overlapping with his subject specialisation. Rahim Motors Private Limited provided guidance to Ikhjot and other students preparing for the competition in the skill set automobile technology.
Syed Vikas Shabir (Skill: Web Design and Development)
State level winner in the skill set Web Design and Development. Pursuing his three-year diploma in computer engineering at Government Polytechnic, Srinagar, Vikas, 17, of Beerwa, Budgam came to know about the competition through social media and he also attended one of the mobilization programs of JKSDM at his college. He won the state level competition.
The skill competition curriculum had certain areas like online HTML and PHQ, which Vikas hadn’t studied earlier and he was provided training by JKSDM in collaboration with Arena Animation, Jammu.
Rajpal Singh (Skill: Mechanical CAD)
Resident of Kanil Bagh, Baramulla, Rajpal, 20, is pursuing his BTech in mechanical engineering at National Institute of Technology, Srinagar. He won the state level competition and will be representing J&K in the national competition. Rajpal was also guided by Professor Saad Parvez , Head-IIED Centre, NIT Srinagar to appear for the skill competition.
Aqeel Ahmad Thoker (Skill: Fashion Technology)
Aqeel, 20, left his studies at 8th class and started supporting his father by stitching uniforms at a local firm. Aqeel got information about the skill competition through social media and radio advertisement. Aqeel of Dub, Ganderbal was trained in the fashion technology by SSMD –School of Fashion and Design, which is the academic partner of JKSDM for the skill competitions.
Rohit Gautam (Skill: Cooking)
Rohit, 20, is pursuing his hotel management degree in Institute of Hotel Management, Srinagar. Rohit attended one of the awareness campaigns conducted by JKSDM at IHM, Srinagar and applied for the competition. Despite losing his father a month back, Rohit appeared for the skill competition and attained top most position in the state level skill competition in the cooking.
Saharsh Arora (Skill: Graphic Designing)
Pursuing his bachelor’s degree in English at MAM College, Jammu, Saharsh, 20 of Reshamghar Colony, Jammu won the state level competition in graphic design.
He started learning graphic design as a hobby at Arena Animation Jammu, which is one of the academic partners of JKSDM in conducting the skill competitions.
“Earlier, Graphic Designing was a hobby for me, but the platform and exposure, the skill competition provided me, I am planning to choose Graphic Designing as a career,” said Saharsh
Mohammad Adeeb Butt (Skill: Beauty Therapy)
Resident of Shaheedi Chow, Jammu, Adeeb, 19, was encouraged by his mother to take up beauty therapy as a hobby. After seeing the JKSDM newspaper advertisement about skill competition, Adeeb got motivated to appear in the skill competition. Adeeb is pursuing his Bachelor’s degree in Humanities at Degree College, Mishriwala, Jammu.
