A national level skill development academy Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) is being set up with its headquarters in Delhi. This was announced by Najma Heptulla, the Union Minister for Minority Affairs while inaugurating the annual conference of State Channelising Agencies (SCAs) of National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC).
The minister said MANAS will serve as a specialised vehicle to implement skill development and upgradation programme for the minority communities, being undertaken by MOMA and various other ministries, departments and organisations of central/state governments. She informed that this is an ambitious project focussed at providing skills training/upgradation in those sectors of economy in which there is shortage or demand is likely to emerge in future, so that they can find gainful employment/self employment opportunities.
NMDFC will ensure concessional credit flows to such people who have undergone skill training/upgradation and want to either set up or expand their own business for self-employment. MANAS is being treated as missing link in between demand for skills and need for concessional credit to boost skill training and employment. The academy will network with various agencies for certification, placement and funding for the programme.
Cash awards were given to three best performing SCAs, Nagaland State Social Welfare Board, Kerala State BC Dev Corporation and JK Women Dev Corporation to motivate other SCAs. Six beneficiaries of best performing SCAs were also awarded having good track record of fund utilisation and repayment and also some of the trainees under the drivers’ training programme being organised in association with Maruti Suzuki India ltd.
The minister also released the first issue of NMDFC’s newsletter on the occasion. The newsletter is expected to bridge the information gap about the schemes and programmes of NMDFC and also is a medium for dialogue with the beneficiaries.
Speaking on the occasion, lalit K Panwar, secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs (MoMA) asked to make NMDFC a brand synonymous to services provided. He said NMDFC can immensely contribute in making seven of the 14 schemes of MoMA successful.
Earlier welcoming the participants, DS Bisht, managing director, NMDFC gave a brief account of achievements of the past 20 years and challenges of today before NMDFC.
The conference was attended by the officials of the concerned department of the state governments, state channelising agencies of NMDFC, Ministry of Minority Affairs, similar social sector apex corporations under different ministries, auditors, bankers and other agencies associated with NMDFC.
It provided a very large interactive platform for exchange of ideas and getting feedback from the field level implementing agencies to bring about further improvement in the schemes of NMDFC and its delivery mechanism.