Impressed with the Delhi Police skill training programme called “Yuva” to provide employment opportunities to petty offenders, the Mehbooba Mufti Government wants to replicate it in Kashmir Valley. The Jammu & Kashmir Government has approached the Delhi Police to provide similar employment opportunities to youngsters who indulge in stone-pelting. The youth involved in petty crimes would be roped in to bring them back into the mainstream.

“Training will not only make these youngsters employable, but also reduce the recidivism rate (tendency of falling back into criminal activities), the authorities hope. The programme will positively engage and steer children and the youth, provide them opportunities to realise their potential, and create awareness about their potential through skill development training,” a senior official said.

“The training also includes soft skills, personal grooming and behavioural change. The Government will pay for the complete training and assessment fees of the individuals and will help them get jobs in the market,” sources said.

Besides Jammu & Kashmir, the Governments in Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh too have approached the Delhi Police for the same.

As per Delhi Police data, it has trained 1,300 petty offenders in 45 types of courses in 20 police stations. Of them, 1,100 have been provided jobs. Till date, over 300 candidates have been placed in Hero MotoCorp, Vodafone, Café Coffee Day, Fortis Hospital and Burger King. Most of the petty offenders are aged between 16 years and 25 years who gain skill development training in various job roles such as field technician, computing and peripherals, domestic data entry operator, make-up artist, front office associate, F&B Service, etc. Besides, personality development and English-speaking classes have been introduced for the youth.

“After getting an approval from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and the Delhi Police will start working towards this,” said sources.

Under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, the Delhi Police launched the skill training programme “Yuva” in July 2015 to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed underprivileged youth, and thereby prevent crime. Its objective is to equip a large number of Indian youth with industry-relevant skill training that will help them securing a better livelihood

Individuals with prior learning experience or skills are also assessed and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning. Under this programme, the Delhi Police trains the youth from the underprivileged families in the age of 17-25 years who are school dropouts, juvenile offenders and victims of crimes. Under the programme, skill development centres have been opened in 32 police stations of Delhi Police.

The Delhi Police has tied up with the NSDC and CII for the initiative. NSDC provides skill training and CII connects the trained youth to the employers in the industry.

Courtesy: The Pioneer, Wednesday, 30 May 2018 | Rajesh Kumar | New Delhi