By Matters India Reporter

New Delhi: The federal Ministry of Rural Development has awarded a Salesian organization as the “best performing training partner” in its progam to transform rural young people with skills and moral values.

The Don Bosco Tech is among 315 institutions that have joined the program titled Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana that aims to make youth in villages economically independent and globally relevant workers. It focuses on poor rural youth between 15 to 35.

Salesian Father A M Joseph, executive director of Don Bosco Tech, received the award and certificate from federal Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar at a function on June 19 in New Delhi.

Since 2009, Don Bosco Tech has involved in training the youth of several Indian states in a variety of skills in partnership with the federal ministry. Since then, it has trained a total of 62,863 young people among whom 48,425 have found jobs.

During April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the Salesian group has implemented the project in Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand and Odisha and trained around 4,850 young people.

The federal ministry says it encourages innovation from partners to build scale and capacity. “In this respect, Don Bosco Tech has taken initiatives to impart quality training along with moral values and to develop and deploy systems that are robust and meaningful to the skilling ecosystem,” it adds.

Some areas of specific intervention included online MIS system, digital content, digital directory providing information, a mobile app which helps find training options, training centers and connect the alumni.

The Salesians said they view the award as a “sign of recognition and acknowledgement” to the commitment of the staff of Don Bosco Tech. They also acknowledged the support they have received from the center and state governments along with the Salesians in those states.

The award offers both an opportunity and a motivation to ensure that it continues to strive better in the mission of Skilling India and forming morally upright and contributing citizens.