A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) and seven Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) for implementation of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) in Manipur in presence of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Thongam Biswajit Singh in Imphal on Thursday.

The MoU signed with the PIAs include Computer Network Assistant, CRM Domestic non-Voice, Food and Beverage Service, Hospitality Assistant, Sewing Machine operator, beauty therapy and hair styling, BPO Non-voice, Retail Sales associates, Field Technician-Networking and Storage, Junior Software Developer, BPO Voice, General Duty Assistant and Food and Beverage Service trainee.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister Biswajit said that under the scheme already 1148 Self Help Groups have been created in the State with around 13,335 members. The scheme has its main focus on youth and targets to train 10,518 rural youth by March 2019 and 5,370 this year, he added.

Thongam Biswajit Singh also instructed the officials concerned for implementation of the scheme to erect hoardings and signboards in the rural areas so as to educate the intended beneficiaries of the scheme.

State Mission Director Somorjit Salam of MSRLM said that the MSRLM earlier signed an MoU with a PIA for providing training on emergency medical technician and blood bank technician. He also said trainings will be imparted in more than 250 trades and skills.

The main focus of the DDU-GKY is on the rural youth from poor families in the age group of 18 to 35 years of age with a relaxation up to 45 years for Persons with Disabilities, transgender and people living with HIV.

The scheme can be availed by MGNREGA worker households with a minimum of 15 days of completed work, Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana households, Antyodaya Anna Yojana card holding households, BPL PDS card holding households, NRLM-SHG households and households covered under auto inclusion parameters of Socio-Economic Caste Census, 2011.

Minister Biswajit also released the Wall and Table Calendars of the MSRLM on the occasion. State Water Resources Minister Latpao Haokip, Principal Secretary MH Khan of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj and other officials of the MSRLM also attended the function.