Lok Sabha Question No. 1438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Skill Development of youth of Minority Communities
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: M. B. RAJESH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1438 ANSWERED ON 27.12.2017

## SKILL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH OF MINORITY COMMUNITIES

## 1438.  SHRI M.B. RAJESH:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  launched  any  special  scheme  for  skill development  of  youth  belonging  to  minority  communities  and  if  so,  the details thereof; and
- (b) the number of youth belonging to the minority communities in Kerala who have benefited from the special scheme for skill development launched for them.

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRI MUKHTAR ABBAS NAQVI)

- (a) and (b): Yes, Madam. The Ministry had launched following special schemes for skill development of youth belonging to minority communities:
- I. 'Seekho aur Kamao (Learn & Earn)': This  is  a  placement  linked  skill development scheme for minorities aiming to upgrade the skills of minority youth in various modern/traditional skills depending upon their qualification, present economic trends and market potential, which can earn them suitable employment or make them suitably skilled to go for self-employment. The scheme ensures placements of minimum 75% trainees, out of which at least 50% placement is in organized sector. The scheme is implemented through selected Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) all over the country including Kerala. In last 3 years, 1700 number of minority youths from the State of Kerala have been trained by PIAs.
- II. Upgrading  the  Skills  and  Training  in  Traditional  Arts/  Crafts  for Development (USTTAD): Scheme has been launched on 14th May, 2015 to

preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities. The scheme aims  at  capacity  building  and  updating  the  traditional  skills  of  master craftsmen/artisans;  documentation  of  identified  traditional  arts/crafts  of minorities; set standards for traditional skills; training of minority youths in various  identified  traditional  arts/crafts  through  master  craftsmen;  and develop national and international market linkages. The PIA has to organize training  programmme  which  shall  be  supported  with  following  activities  to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved for preservation of traditional art/craft,  establishment  of  market  linkages  and  generating  interest  among young  generation  for  taking  up  traditional  arts/crafts  as  a  profession.  Till date no minority youths from the State of Kerala have been trained under the scheme.

- III. Nai Manzil: Scheme has been launched on 8 th  August, 2015 with an aims to  benefit  the  minority  youth  who  do  not  have  a  formal  school  leaving certificate  i.e.  those  in  the  category  of  school  dropouts  or  educated  in  the community  education  institutions  like  Madarsas,  in  order  to  provide  them formal education and skills, and enable them to seek better employment in the  organized  sector  and  thus  to  equip  them  for  better  lives.  Till  date  no minority  youths  from  the  State  of  Kerala  have  been  trained  under  the scheme.

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