MANAS will further PM Modi’s vision of skill India: Najma Heptullah

Union Minority Affairs Minister Dr.Najma Heptulla on Tuesday said that the establishment of the Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) is in line with the transformational vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding that the institute will further the cause of skilled India.

“The role of skill development will be to fuel the economic development of the country and ensure inclusive growth of minorities to achieve the Prime Minister’s dream of ‘Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas’,” Heptullah said, during the launch of the institute.

“To increase coverage of program under MANAS, the ministry has recently increased the income eligibility criterion for trainees from around Rs. one lakh to Rs.six lakhs annually in order to facilitate the provision of training and concessional credit. This change of base is likely to benefit 12-13 crore people,” she added.

The first skill development training programs of MANAS were launched on a pilot basis, even as celebrations marking the 125th birth anniversary of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad took place.

In addition to this, two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed by MANAS, first with the representatives of health sector council for launching training programs and the other with the security sector council, launching security services training programs.

These training programs will ensure 100 percent employment of trainees. The outcome of the first training programs will guide the ministry in expanding network of MANAS and help it to acquire an All India footprint.

Minister of State (MoS) for Minority Affairs, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who assumed office earlier in the day, said that he will prefer to work in close association with people to eliminate middlemen and ensuring that benefits of various schemes of the Ministry reach desired people. (ANI)