MSDS provides a ray hope to hundreds of unemployed youth
Nearly 700 imparted training in different courses
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 30 2012: Even though law and order problem coupled with absence of industries might be the determining factors for the limited number of employment opportunities for the educated youths in the State, Manipur Skill Development Society has been relentlessly striving to provide economic independence to the youngsters.

In the backdrop of over 7 lakh educated youths scouring for jobs, the Society was established by the Government of Manipur about two years back and till date is said to have provided skill development training to nearly 700 youths.

The training programme mostly encompasses professional courses such as aviation, travel and tourism, hospitality, beauty therapy, ayurveda and spa, BPO, retail management, banking and financial insurance, etc.

Significantly, the State Government bears the expenditure for these training programmes for both male and female trainees who have completed matriculation and above classes.

Trainees sponsored by the MSDS undergoing training

Another outstanding feature of the Society's endeavour is the emphasis on job placement at reputed firms outside the State.

Speaking to The Sangai Express C Mang Kipgen, who is Project Director of the Society, said that an individual candidate who completes training under the Society's specific skill development programme can earn no less than Rs 8000 in a month.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, the Society facilitates placement of trained candidates in firms/establishment outside India, said the Project Director who informed that so far 609 candidates have acquired training under the Society out of which 318 had already been employed at different places/firms.

Moreover, 149 candidates are currently undergoing training at the Society, maintained Mang Kipgen who also conveyed that the Society sponsors candidates for further training at other institutes/establishment outside manipur.

Some of the institutes where Manipuri candidates are sponsored for further training include Suryavinayak Wellness, Ananda Spa, Sunder Deep Group of Institute, New Horizon, Orion Edutech, Flying Cats, NBA, Sri Sanskar, India Skills and JCRE, according to the Project Director.

Clarifying on the doubts with regard to whether the Society is a private undertaking, he said it is an establishment of the Government of Manipur with the Chief Secretary as the Chairman.

Accepting that naivety of the general populace on the status of the Society might be due to its low profile existence, the Project Director informed that a number of events are being conducted to make the general public aware of the Society's establishment and its endeavours to solve the problem of unemployment.

Confiding that emphasis is on creating awareness at the rural areas, Mang Kipgen also said that a training hall is being developed at the State Academy of Training to accommodate more trainees, including members of self help groups.

As a part of the Society's endeavour to boost morale of workers at the grassroots level and promote their products, Society officials participated at an international trade show held in February this year at the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town during which handloom and handicraft items produced by women self help groups in Manipur were showcased to the international community, informed the Project Director.