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UGC programme for rehab of slum dwellers ....UPNEET PANSARE
A CENTRE for slum studies, set up at Ramnarain Ruia College, Matunga, will conduct a postgraduate diploma course in slum studies development from the academic year 2008-2009. The project comes under the innovative programme of the University Grants Commission (UGC) . The UGC has sanctioned Rs 43.5 lakh for a period of five years for the programme.
The programme is only one of its kind in India, according to Dr Suhas Pednekar, principal of the college. "In cities like Mumbai, the problem of slum rehabilitation is of great concern to citizens and the government. Our programme is designed to equip students with skills to tackle problems arising while dealing with slum dwellers. Fees for the programme will be subsidised as the programme will be open to even those residing in the slums." The programme consists of on field training as well as theoretical studies. For practical training, the students would be taken to slum areas in Mumbai. The programme aims to prepare trainers who can reach out to slum residents, provide them relief and help with special emphasis on women and children, and help them generate employment oppor tunities. Forty students have already registered for the course. In a bid to equip students from poverty ridden tribal areas with industry oriented skills, Somaiya Vidyavihar college had begun a five month institutional training programme in October 2007 along with Leighton International, an Australian based global company working in construction and infrastructure development industry and TAFE (Technical and Further Education), Western Australia. "The vision of the institute is to encourage vocational training in India and subsequently produce highly skilled workers trained in line with international standards. The institute will not only provide a practical, hands on training by internationally trained staff, it will also provide job placement to all successful candidates and ensure further training on the job. In this way, the latest international know-how and practices can be transferred across India," said Dr Patricia Gokhale of the Somaiya Trust. The first batch of students have already secured jobs in Dubai and are slated to join next month. The students comprise children of farmers, vegetable vendors, clerks etc. Their institutional training consisted of three months on site training in Dahanu and two months of theoretical study at the Somaiaya Campus at Vidyavihar. |
