Asem Mohiuddin
In the backyard of Jammu airport amid the lush green swaths, a well decorated fifty room building houses for more than 150 girls. These girls, mostly teenage predominantly are hailing from remote pockets of two union territories of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. The building is converted into skill training institute under New Delhi’s ambitious Skill India project. In the midst of their crash course shortly, these 150 odd girls may land in the India’s growing fashion industry.
“These girls are being trained in fashion designing and will soon be placed across in the same industry in all over India,” says, Syma Tabbasum who looks after the affairs of institute as Centre Manager.
As there is no dearth of fashion and designing institutes in India for the training of aspiring youths, this institute stands exceptional in not only offering the professional training to these young girls, however, also afford their financial requirements.
“This programme is sponsored by Government of India under DDU-GKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) flagship programme. We dwell deep into the untouched areas of region and bring out the talented youth who desire to achieve something in life but feel dejected for need of financial and moral support. Most of these girls are from remotest Kargil and Kathua districts of erstwhile state and we brought them here under strenuous efforts of mobilization,” adds Syma.
The fully funded scheme which is in vogue in Jammu and Kashmir since 2011 has achieved remarkable targets. In this erstwhile state, the scheme is famously known as Himayat that literally means support. Every year more than 11000 youths are imparted with training in different trades that include Fashion designing, hospitality, mechanical, retail, paramedics and many others and join the growing private sector of country. Off the total target of 1.5 lakh, the scheme has a special provision to keep reservation for 40000 young women to be trained under scheme. Since the budget has no restrictions and is being modified as per requirements on ground, officials claim that more youths could be incorporated for such skill oriented programmes in future.
The scheme remains more successful since it is directly being monitored by some central autonomous bodies though recently the state government assumed more powers in its implementation after setting up its own JKSRLM.
“We are living in interesting times. We have the world’s largest young population and yet employers are constantly searching for the “right talent”. The same is true for all over the world. To add to it, most of the jobs from blue to white collar have undergone drastic transformation and technology infusion leading to bigger gap. Himayat and its training partners are the bridge between you and the need of the hour,” explains Kapil Sharma (COO, HMMU).
While the programme has no financial bindings, in the recent times the centre government in Delhi has been consistently supporting the endeavour that helps the youths especially from downtrodden sections to realize their unfulfilled dreams.
Last month when Prime Minister Narender Modi in his Man ki Baat- special programme addressed to nation mentioned the name of Parveen Fatima, a Kargil girl who donned her mettle in fashion design industry, it boosted the morale of many hundred girls undergoing same courses at various PIA’s.
Parveen Fatima was trained by Datapro computers private limited, at Jammu before she was placed outside state. Datapro is among dozens of other PIA’s which are awarded contracts by Jammu Kashmir State Rural Livelihood mission- a government department that executes the centre sponsored scheme.
Khair u Nisa, one of the girls undergoing training at Datapro is also from Kargil. She feels proud of Fatima and works hard to become successful fashion designer.
“Ever since the name of Parveen Fatima was mentioned, it strengthened our morale of doing something remarkable. We too want our name shall be mentioned by prime minister,” she resolves.
As Nisa was always dreaming of joining the fashion industry, the limited resources, lack of exposure had forced her to give up her dreams.
“When we went to Kargil, we convinced their families and assured them their girls would be trained and placed well to make them financially independent in life. We brought them from the remotest parts of district,” Syma Tabbasum remembers her mobilization trip to cold desert.
The skill oriented courses run for the youth last for 3 months to one year, depending on the nature of trade.
“We are choosing the courses that have a growing market demand so that placements are 100 per cent assured. Hospitality, Retail Market, food processing, Fashion designing, technology and marketing are the most sought courses and the concerned sectors are equally capable of absorbing the trained youths,” says a senior official in JK Government , insisting not be mentioned as he is not authorized to speak officially.
Shivani Kumari who is a fashion designing trainer at the Data pro centre is also the product of same scheme.
“I was trained under the Himayat scheme after I quit my studies midway. I was dependent on family until I received the formal training. Today I am supporting my family besides affording my own expenses. Himayat gave me confidences, strengthen and dignity,”
Owing to typical geography and limited resources in the border region of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh, unemployment is the worst problem that it faces in present times. Lack of employment opportunities is considered one among the major reasons for its political uncertainty. Himayat has been launched on the recommendations of Ranguranjan committee report and present political dispensation in India has taken it further for the socioeconomic prosperity of youths in twin Union territories.
Sources say that the scheme can yield more fruitful results provided the PIA’s are chosen on merit. “Some PIA’s which have been awarded projects doesn’t even fulfil the basic criteria. But they wield strong influence in state power corridors and get projects approved. This practice needs to be shut to secure the core agenda of scheme,” said the official sources.
