Home Ministry attempts to give lift to 'Udaan' scheme

The Union home ministry is attempting to give new wings to its ambitious scheme “Udaan”, which could not take off since its launch last year, by getting public sector units (PSUs) such as Canara Bank and ONGC to train and provide jobs to Kashmiris.  

Eleven leading private and public sector companies including Infosys, Accenture and TCS are visiting Jammu and Kashmir in batches from Friday to train candidates shortlisted from the Valley in different aspects, including developing their software skills, and providing them with jobs depending on their calibre, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters during his monthly briefing held at Shastri Bhavan on Thursday.

Besides these, Iyogi, Rooman Technologies, Religare, 247inc, Bajaj Alliance, Learning Links and PSUs Canara Bank and ONGC will be going to Jammu and Kashmir from Friday till May 4 for headhunting the people and to provide them skills under special industry initiatives for the state.

Shinde said the government will try to get them absorbed by the companies that pick candidates for training, possibly to overcome the drawback that Udaan had failed to ensure jobs for Kashmiri youths.

The project appraisal committee in its meeting held on March 15 this year approved proposals of M/s Iyogi to train 5,742 graduates, Accenture’s 3,300 candidates, 247inc’s 600 candidates and Ligare Voyages Limited’s 2,000 candidates over a period of five years, Shinde said.

The ministry had to go for a re-look at the training-cum-employment generation scheme as the corporate did not show much enthusiasm due to procedural red-tapism and lack of skill among graduates and post graduates. The economic slow down was also a hindrance in training and hiring youth.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs recently had tweaked the scheme to take on board the PSUs who have been empowered to train and hire the residents of Valley under the Corporate Social Responsibility.

It is estimated that 40,000 youth will be trained by companies in the next five years but jobs is not a guarantee as it would depend on the individual’s capability and economic situation.