LG initiates employment linked skill training for Ladakh youth

Excelsior Correspondent

LEH, July 3: In a first-of-its-kind initiative to enhance employability and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the youth of Ladakh, Lieutenant Governor, Vinai Kumar Saxena, has initiated a unique employment-linked skill training programme for Ladakhi youth.

As part of it, 36 shortlisted youth (34 girls and 2 boys) from all seven districts of Ladakh are set to undergo the skill training programmes at the GMR Varalakshmi Centre for Empowerment & Livelihoods (CEL) in New Delhi, starting in the first week of July.

The initiative, conceived by Mr Saxena, aims at providing the Ladakhi youth with ample exposure, equipping the youth with market-oriented skills aligned with industry requirements while creating pathways for gainful employment in the organised sectors. The initiative holds more significance as most of these candidates are stepping out of Ladakh for the first time.

The selection of 34 girls out of the total 36 candidates is aligned with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi’s call for empowering women through skill development. These 36 candidates were today flagged off from Leh to New Delhi by LG Saxena.

The selected candidates include 2 from Leh, 7 each from Kargil and Drass, 6 from Zanskar, 8 from Sham, 5 from Nubra and 01 from Changthang districts. They will undergo two to three months of intensive residential training in high-demand sectors – Advanced Computing and Data Visualisation, Cargo and Logistics Associate, Customer Service Associate, Customer Service Executive, Beauty and Spa, Business Banking Associate, Food Production and Service, and Front Office Associate.

Upon successful completion of the programme, all trainees will receive placement assistance through the Foundation’s extensive network of industry partners such as Schneider Electric, Voltas, CELBI, Relaxo, etc. In the second batch, another 50 students from Ladakh would be sent for vocational training.

LG Saxena, calling the youth of Ladakh its greatest strength, said that empowering them with industry-relevant skills is one of the most meaningful investments towards building a bright future of Ladakh. “Our priority is to ensure that the youth of Ladakh are not only educated but also equipped with practical skills that match the evolving needs of industry and the modern economy,” the LG said.