Srinagar: Director of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) Scheme in the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs, Neha Giri, visited training centres in Anantnag and Srinagar on November 11 and 12 to review the implementation of the scheme’s education and non-traditional skilling components.
During her visit to Darul Aloom Noori Irfam at Guree in Bijbehara, Anantnag, Giri reviewed the education programme being implemented by the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD).
She interacted with trainees, trainers and centre staff and stressed the importance of open-schooling programmes in helping school dropouts resume and complete their education.
Under the education component, eligible school dropouts are provided bridge courses to pursue open schooling at Class VIII, X and XII levels, with assessment and certification through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) or other institutions approved by the Ministry.
The visit was attended by Deputy Director Social Welfare, Kashmir, Mushtaq Ahmad Maqdoomi, District Social Welfare Officer, Anantnag, Aadil Iqbal Lone, and NIESBUD State Head for Jammu and Kashmir, Aabid Nisar Shah, besides other officials.
Giri also visited the PM VIKAS training centre at Karan Nagar in Srinagar, operated by ITI Limited under the scheme’s non-traditional skilling component.
She inspected the training facilities and interacted with trainees enrolled in the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)-aligned Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technocrat programme. She stressed the need for industry-relevant technical and practical skills in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and encouraged trainees to complete their training and improve their employment prospects.
The non-traditional skilling component provides placement-linked training in emerging sectors, including industry exposure, assessment, certification, on-the-job training and employment linkages. Training is provided free of cost to eligible beneficiaries with financial support from the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
District Social Welfare Officer, Srinagar, Mukhtar Ahmad, attended the visit. ITI Limited was represented by Coordinator Ashfaq Ahmad, while the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) was represented by State Engagement Officer for Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, Kahkashan Anjum.
PM VIKAS is a Central Sector Scheme aimed at promoting the educational and socio-economic development of minority communities through skilling, education, women’s leadership, entrepreneurship and infrastructure development.
