Skill training centres to offer e-learning modules to marginalised communities

Coimbatore: The Jan Shikshan Sansthans (Institutes of People’s Education), which have been providing skill training to the people belonging to tribal and marginalised communities, will offer e-learning modules to candidates from April. This is in addition to the theory and practical courses they already offer.
The whole functioning mechanism of Jan Shikshan Sansthans (JSSs) has also been revamped and made more formalised to offer more skill training courses to more number of candidates, an official said.

The JSS centres, which were functioning under the human resources ministry, have been brought under the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship from this year. The official said the functioning of JSSs have been revamped right from entering attendance to the governing board. The new system would be implemented on a pilot basis for the year 2019-2020, said G Umashankar, director, Avinashilingam Jan Shikshan Sansthan, which is the nodal centre for all the nine Jan Shikshan Sansthans in the state.

Umashankar said the annual funding for JSSs has been increased to Rs 21 lakh from Rs 18 lakh. “This would enable us enrol more candidates. Also, this year we have been given the freedom to recruit as many trainers as we need.”

While the Avinashilingam JSS in the city had enrolled 1,500 candidates last year, this year they are looking at enrolling 1,750 candidates. “Last year, we had around 65 batches. This year, we are planning to have 80 batches. Also, we will offer 15 courses, compared to 10 last year,” he said.

Full-fledged six-month courses in computer numerical control machine (CNC) operation and four-wheeler mechanic would be introduced from April, Umashankar said. “The CNC operation is a skill training course specific to Coimbatore.”

The board of management of JSS has been reconstituted and made holistic. “Now, we have representatives of district administration, district industries centre, district education office and the lead bank, among others. The facilitation of schemes and programmes would be smooth with the presence of all these officials on board,” Umashankar said, adding, “While there are 249 Jan Shikshan Sansthans across the country now, the ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship is looking at adding 60 more in the coming year.”