Smriti Irani launches Rs 100 crore modern skill training, education programme for Sikh community

NEW DELHI: Union minister of minority affairs Smriti Irani launched skill development, leadership and entrepreneurship promotion and education programme for the Sikh community on the occasion of Sikh New Year. The Centre has allotted a total budget expenditure of approximately Rs 100 crore.

The programme was approved under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme through Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). The initiative will benefit 10,000 youth and women.

The minister said that the programme aims to provide modern skills training in job-oriented roles, promote Sikh artisans such as Sikligars and other groups who are practicing traditional arts and craft forms, foster women leadership and entrepreneurship. It will also provide training for school dropouts.

The ministry will collaborate with societies, educational institutions registered under the DSGMC, which is already operating 4 colleges in Delhi University viz. Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Khalsa College, Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, Mata Sundri College of Women and Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, 12 branches of Guru Harkishan Public Schools, and 1 ITI, the official statement read.

The programme will not only focus on Sikh community in Delhi but all over India by building capacities of these educational institutes and assisting the youth in employment and livelihood opportunities.

In an effort to preserve cultural heritage of Sikh community, the ministry has also decided to set up “State-of-the-Art Gurmukhi Script learning centers in Khalsa colleges under the University of Delhi for providing basic knowledge of the language along with development of an IT platform for dissemination of Sikh learnings and heritage amongst students”.