Calendar to groom UP youth with one skill every month

Lucknow: Skill training centres in UP will not only impart subject specific training but also aid personality development and leadership qualities in students.

UP Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) has come up with a slew of co-curricular activities such as yoga, sports, cyber security, digital literacy etc, for all residential training centers operating under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushayla Yojana.

Releasing a co-curricular calendar, the UPSDM has asked all its project implementing agencies (PIAs) to get six clubs, including Cultural Club, Sports and Fitness Club, Digital and IT Club, Literature and Language Club, Environment and Social Awareness Club, and Entrepreneurship and Career Development Club established at all skill centers. Each club must include a minimum of five trainees, and the participation of at least two female trainees will be compulsory.

Minister for vocational education, skill development and entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev Aggarwal, said, “Under the released calendar, various national and international days, cultural events, sports competitions, entrepreneurship sessions, digital literacy programs, and career-oriented activities will be organised throughout the year.”

The calendar will begin in Janwith National Youth Day, Republic Day, and career counseling sessions, while Feb will feature cultural festivals and entrepreneurship workshops. Mar will include Women’s Day celebrations and annual award ceremonies, whereas Apr will witness programs based on Earth Day, talent hunts, self-introduction competitions, and Ambedkar Jayanti.

Director UPSDM Pulkit Khare said, “These activities are aimed at making rural youth technically skilled but also at preparing them as confident, articulate, and leadership-oriented individuals suited to the needs of the modern corporate world.”

He said Jun has been dedicated to the theme of health and wellness, while calendar for Jul will comprise group discussions, mock interviews, and public speaking competitions. Aug will feature Independence Day celebrations, rangoli competitions, and Raksha Bandhan-based cultural events, while Sep will promote Teachers’ Day, Hindi Day, and literary activities.

Oct will include Gandhi Jayanti, cleanliness drives, voluntary labor campaigns and cyber security workshops. Nov will focus on Constitution Day, quizzes, and sports competitions, while Dec activities such as English speaking week, digital literacy, and resume writing sessions will prepare youth for employment opportunities.