Pune: Over 650 Students Enrolled as MES and Army Launch Skill Development Program in Jammu and Kashmir

Pune/Baramulla, 9th November 2024: The Maharashtra Education Society (MES), in collaboration with the Aseem Foundation and the Indian Army’s 15th Corps (Chinar Corps), has launched a Skill Development Center in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir. This initiative aims to equip the youth of the region with employable skills through specialized training programs in various fields.

MES Governing Body Chairman Babasaheb Shinde shared details about the center at a recent press conference. The event was also attended by Air Marshal Bhushan Gokhale (Retd)(Retd), MES Vice Chairman Anandi Patil, Governing Body Member Vijay Bhalerao, and Aseem Foundation Chairman Sarang Gosavi.

The center currently offers training in fashion design, with MES’s Renuka Swaroop Institute of Career Courses overseeing the curriculum, examinations, evaluation, and certification process, ensuring quality and industry relevance.

The Indian Army has established 72 ‘Chinar Youth Clubs’ in Jammu and Kashmir to promote the skills of local youth. One of these clubs will host a training program conducted by MES and the Aseem Foundation, which aims to provide employment and business opportunities while also promoting local folk art. Over 70% of the students participating in these training programs have already secured employment. Gosavi noted that the centers offer training in various fields, including fashion design, beauty and wellness, information technology, banking, and music.

Shinde and Gokhale highlighted that MES had previously conducted a student-teacher exchange program with Bal Govind Vidyalaya in Phinter Village, Dadwara taluka, Kathua district, as part of their educational cooperation. This initiative included training teachers and setting up an advanced computer laboratory at the school.

Currently, 650 students are receiving skill training at the Chinar Youth Center, managed by MES and the Aseem Foundation. Plans are in place to expand the skill training network to reach remote areas along the Line of Control (LoC). The project is supported administratively by the Indian Army’s 19th Division. Gosavi emphasized that the primary focus of this initiative is to build skills among girls and women in the region.