This eighth class dropout from Jharkhand can get a job overseas, thanks to the institute 'Kalyan Gurukul'
While millions of degree holders struggle every day to land a decent job in our country, there is an eighth class dropout, Dayanidhi Pradhan, from Jharkhand who dreams to get a job overseas. However unreal it sounds, this aspiration is a real possibility, thanks to a multi-trade skill development institute, Kalyan Gurukul, that has placed hundreds of tribal youths in foreign countries.
Situated 40 km from Ranchi, Kalyan Gurukul is providing short-term skill training to the 23-year-old Dayanidhi and hundred others who are currently enrolled in this program. They provide training for skills such as electric fitting, plumbing, AC ducting and pipe fitting. While speaking to IANS, Dayanidhi recollects how many of his peers like Boodhu Munda, Gopal Munda, and Shahnawaz Bhai are now placed in the Gulf. He says,
Gurukul in Bundu has a history of placing almost all of its students abroad.
Kalyan Gurukul is run by PanIIT Alumni Reach for India Foundation (PARFI), sponsored by the state government and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) of the government of India. Housed in a sprawling green campus, many of the teachers and students have a huge vegetable garden that is maintained by the trainees. Everyone begins their day with yoga, meditation, prayers, and a healthy breakfast before dispersing to their classes. Ex-servicemen Pramod Kumar Pandey, who heads the Bundu center, says patriotic values coupled with life skills which include financial and credit literacy are an integral part of the program.
While speaking to IANS, Pramod said,
Students enrolled in Gurukul have to pay a basic fee of Rs 18,000 provided through a loan financing scheme with NABARD. Repayment starts once the student gets a placement. We hone skills of the students according to the contemporary needs of the market. Since inception, we have placed around 276 students in Dubai, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Sri Lanka. The latest batch of around 104 students have also been selected by recruiters and are waiting to go to various Gulf countries.
The first Gurukul was started in the year 2010 at Gumla in Jharkhand with the intention to involve the unemployed youth who are the potential recruits for Maoists, according to the IIT alumnus and a member of PARFI, Tarun Shukla. While speaking to IANS, he said,
The infrastructure and other support for Gurukul are given by the government while its operation and maintenance are done through PARFI. We have a tie-up with business conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji Group to place students in the Gulf countries.
He further told IANS,
NSDC plays a significant role in the functioning of Gurukul as it standardises the course curriculum. Secondly, with NSDC, one can now find employers, trainers, content developers and job-seekers on one platform.
Rajbala Verma, the Chief Secretary of Jharkhand, told IANS,
In the next two years, we are planning to expand these Gurukul centres in all the 24 Jharkhand districts with a training capacity of 10,000 youth.
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