Tribal Affairs Deptt to sponsor students for Commercial Pilot, Health and other courses

Jammu: Tribal Affairs Department has initiated process to select and sponsor 250 students at various levels to undergo skill development courses in different fields linked with employment opportunities. These include training for Commercial Pilot License , Air Hostess/ Cabin Crew, Medical diagnostics , IT, ITES, Nursing and Journalism among others.

The department will sponsor 10 students for Commercial Pilot Training at a leading aviation academy. A batch of 20 will be sponsored for training of cabin crew, air hostess and ground staff in aviation. DGCA approved academies have been contacted for course module and civil aviation department has been approached for designing framework for screening process to shortlist candidates for sponsorship to avail Commercial Pilot License training. It is also proposed to make available aviation courses in higher secondary schools for interested candidates to provide them an opportunity to understand the requirements of highly professional training.

Another batch of 100 girl students will be sponsored under Skill Development for undergoing Nursing and multipurpose healthcare worker course. In view of Covid-19 pandemic new emolument opportunities have emerged particularly in wake of need felt for strengthening primary healthcare system. In line with this , another batch of 50 youth will undergo the training of medical technicians and diagnostics. These courses will be implemented in coordination with Universities and J&K Skill Development Mission.

In the field of Journalism a batch of atleast 10 students will be sponsored this year for undergoing diploma course for which leading colleges and universities have been approached. Students will undergo digital media training as well.

Further, one batch of 60 students will be screened and shortlisted for sponsorship to undergo skill development training in Information Technology , IT Enables Services , Coding , Data analytical , data operators, cyber security and other sub-specialisations.

Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary informed that skill development training landscape needed to be reoriented with emergent requirements and employment markets. Aviation sector , he said, is a fast growing field facing acute shortage of Commercial Pilots and flight staff particularly in South Asia which is great emolument opportunity for skilled and train youth for which annual batch of 10 Commercial Pilots and 20 cabin crew will be sponsored by the department. He further said that , in view of COVID-19 Pandemic there’s a need to diversify health sector and strengthen primary healthcare for which department is sponsoring students for various courses providing them self-employment opportunities.

Dr Shahid said that students shall also be sponsored for various courses like Journalism, MBA, MCA, Engineering, IT, ITES as well as research snd development. The new skill development courses will be launched within a month calling applications from desirous students having requisite qualification and interest in subject fields. He asked the youth to come forward with their areas for interests for which they need support of department.

The new courses have been proposed on a 90:10 formula with 90% course fee to be sponsored by the Tribal Affairs Department and 10% student contribution which would also be offered as student loan. Department will be launching a host of various courses for which scholarship will be provided to undergo professional degrees and diploma courses. All these courses will begin from current year academic session.