Polytechnic colleges to impart biz skills to rural folk

Each college, which is recognised by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), will now establish more than ten village centres in their respective region. The colleges will have their own curriculum to conduct skill development training programmes for the public relevant to the region. Around 600 people, both from urban and rural background, undergo skill development programmes conducted at the institution (main centre) and at the village extension centres.

“Over 50,000 beneficiaries in the State will be trained in different skill oriented conventional and non-conventional short-term courses this year,” a senior official from the directorate said, adding that people are also trained on entrepreneurship development to help them start their own business.

Stating that the objective is not just transfer of knowledge and skill for producing new products, the official said: “The programme entails aspects such as need analysis, technology identification, design, application, production, marketing and management and maintenance.”

The institutions will provide backup technical support to the panchayats, NGOs and grass-root community at large, an initiative that is expected to bear fruits in future, the official said. Stating that the institutions will also help marketing of rural produce and products, the official said: “Exhibitions will be organised to popularise the produce and products of farmers and rural artisans.” He said the sale of handicrafts, organic food, herbal products and medicines has been increasing at a rapid rate in the world market. The initiative will facilitate a retail marketing network to support the rural artisans and small farmers by evolving or organising small cooperatives for them, the official added.