Kit distribution function at Panjab University

Chandigarh, June 16, 2015: Punjab and Haryana Governor cum UT Administrator, Prof. Kaptan Singh Solanki today said Skill development is an important component in improving the employability and for reducing poverty and exclusion and enhancing competencies and employability.

Prof Solanki was addressing the kit distribution function at Panjab University (PU) auditorium here today. The function was organised by Bridging the Gap Together (BTGT),State Urban Poverty Alleviation (SUPA) Cell, Municipal Corporation (MC) Chandigarh and the PU Department of Life Long learning and Extension.

The scheme is being implemented under NULM (National Urban Livelihood Mission). The scheme is aimed to reduce poverty and vulnerability of the urban poor households by enabling them to access gainful self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities.

Stressing the need for skill development, Prof. Solanki the youth constitutes 70 crore of the Indian population and they need the skill development. We have the youth power and the future of our country depends on youth, hence it is important to remember five S, which are Skills, Sincerity, Seriousness, Social and Spiritual, which will go a long way in making you self-dependent and to be respected in the society, he added while addressing the students. He said that the PU, especially DLLL&E is always on the forefront to provide extension education through vocational courses to the community. He also congratulated BTGT and MC Chandigarh for having partnership with University for community education.

PU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Arun Kumar Grover while addressing the audience said that learning can take place not only in their child hood but also become a lifelong learning process. This extends knowledge and resources to the community and develop a two way process between the experts and the people.

Commissioner, M.C, Chandigarh Ms. Bhavana Garg congratulated the University and BTGT expressing that the success of the program depends upon the collaborating agencies, quality training, intensive supportive, supervision and creative community support in our society. She said, soon a feedback system is being developed in which beneficiaries will be able to send their feedback through email. Also alumni will be soon formed so that those who have undergone training can remain in touch with each other.

PU DLLL&E Mrs. Renu Gandhi, Vivek Raheja, Founder Director, BTGT and Vivek Trivedi SDO, SUPA Cell, MC, Chandigarh also spoken on the occasion.

Mrs. Renu Gandhi said that Eco system partner refer to the system where the department has became a part of National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) by providing infrastructure facilities, training, resource support and assessment facilitation to the BTGT and is currently giving training to more than 400 candidates at the departmental venue and aligning them with the national mission of skill development through NULM. Vivek Trivedi informed that Out of the 400 hours training, 60 hours have been dedicated

to personality development and 30 hours for character development and their stipend has also been increased from Rs 1000 to 2000.

Vivek Raheja, said, BTGT poverty action research lab, after interacting with 1000 EWS/BPL youth and continuous action research of 5years developed a holistic competency based growth framework where in the students can grow from a few thousand to 50 thousand a month. / (SK Vyas, Jalandhar)