Title of the project:

Vocational education and training for inclusive growth for vulnerable and marginalised groups (SC, ST, OBC, Dalit) in India in East Indian states of Jharkhand, West Bengal and Orissa.

Overall objective(s):

To contribute to reduced unemployment and inclusive growth in rural areas and to complement to the achievement of MDG 1

Specific objectives:

 Increased access to skills and training for tribal, Dalit and OBC adolescents and youths in selected BRGF districts of three Eastern states

 Established institutional arrangements for planning, quality assurance, certification and linkages.

Target Beneficiaries:

1000 adolescents and youths in the age group of 15 to 35 from amongst Scheduled Castes (SCs) / Scheduled Tribes (STs) and Other Backward Castes in selected BRGF districts of West Bengal

Project Area:

There are three BRGF districts of West Bengal i.e. Bankura, Paschim Medinipore, Birbhum

Project Period: 60 months

Main activities :-

   Design course content, stages and duration to suit local requirements, aptitude and market;

         Impart training on specific skill development, integrated with basic financial, entrepreneurial,           market identification and business development skills.

   Create linkages with identified resources organizations for collaboratively developing and        conducting VET courses

         Facilitate linkages with banks, microfinance institutions and SHGs for credit and working capital.
         Upgrade and strengthen existing CBOs into Resource Centers for follow up training and linkages.

         Provide critical linkages for designing, grading, processing, certification, quality control, &           value addition and especially for marketing at all levels- local, national, international.

         Pilot initiatives for collectivization of Ecoprenuers into Federations/ Cooperatives/ Producer           Companies.

   Advocate for standardization of the developed VET programmes, higher budgetary allocation for        VET in Backward Regions, replication of successful models and leverage for Government support        to VET, especially on the identified themes.

Estimated Results:

 Skill development courses developed and organized in natural resource management, agriculture and allied activities and renewable energy;

 Multi-stakeholder linkages developed for gainful employment

 Strategic partnerships for mainstreaming of successful models of VET in identified themes developed and advocacy activities strengthened

Theme of the Vocational Training:-

 Sustainable Agriculture (Integrated Multi Sub-system Farming)

 Bio-Input Production

 Nursery raising & management

 Raising and Managing commercial vegetable garden(business)

 Mushroom cultivation

 Small animal raising & management (Poultry, Piggery, Rabbit Rearing)

 Fishery of indigenous species including fish feed making

 Sal Leaf Products

 Babui grass products

 Palm juice and value added production

 Neem seed processing & marketing

 Micro-Irrigation Tools

 Soil-water conservation & management

 Pond Management

 Bio-gas and productive sanitation

 Briquetting