Year-round co-curricular activities necessary for all

DDU-GKY residential training centers, complete schedule has been provided

Action will be taken against careless institutions, It is required to organize

six clubs at each center.

Training centers will not only give work, but will also help improve

self-confidence and leadership abilities. Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal

The Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief

Minister Yogi Adityanath, no longer wants to limit itself to merely equipping

rural youth with technical skills, but is taking significant steps towards

preparing them to become confident, communicative, and leadership-oriented

individuals, suited to the needs of the modern corporate world. In this regard,

the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission (UPSDM) has released a detailed

calendar of year-long co-curricular activities for all residential training

centers operated under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana

(DDU-GKY). This new system aims to develop leadership, communication skills,

digital literacy, personality development, and employability skills among

trainees. The Mission has made it mandatory for all Project Implementing

Agencies (PIAs) to conduct these activities. Clear instructions have been given

that any institution found negligent or lacking in implementing the activities

seriously will face punitive action.

Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of

Vocational Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Kapil Dev Agarwal

said that as per the released calendar, national and international days,

cultural events, sports competitions, entrepreneurship sessions, digital

literacy programmes and career-based activities will be organised throughout

the year. The year will begin with National Youth Day, Republic Day and career

counselling in January, while cultural festivals and entrepreneurship workshops

will be organised in February. Women's Day and annual awards ceremony will be

held in March, while Earth Day, talent hunt, self-introduction competition and

Ambedkar Jayanti-based programmes will be organised in April.

According to the calendar released under the direction of

Mission Director Pulkit Khare, May will focus on yoga, sports competitions,

poster making, and debate competitions, while June will be dedicated to the

theme of Health and Wellness. July will feature group discussions,

mock interviews, and public speaking competitions. August will feature

Independence Day, rangoli competitions, and Rakshabandhan-themed cultural

events, while September will focus on Teachers' Day, Hindi Day, and literary

activities. October will feature Gandhi Jayanti, cleanliness drives, Shramdan,

and cybersecurity workshops. November will feature Constitution Day, quizzes,

and sports competitions. December will feature activities like English

Conversation Week, digital literacy, and resume writing to prepare youth for

employment.

The most important aspect of this initiative by the Yogi

government is that it will now be mandatory to form six special clubs at every

residential training center. These will include a cultural club, a sports and

fitness club, a digital and IT club, a literature and language club, an

environmental and social awareness club, and an entrepreneurship and career development

club. Each club will have a minimum of five trainees, and at least two female

trainees will be required. Instructions have also been given to ensure the

participation of trainees with disabilities. The Mission has also clarified

that geotagged photos of every activity, attendance details, and progress

reports must be sent to Mission headquarters via email every month. District

Program Managers (DPMs) and Block Program Managers have also been instructed to

be personally present at the training centers during important events.

Mission Director Pulkit Khare said that this initiative by

the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Department will not only empower rural

youth technically, but also develop their inherent self-confidence, leadership

abilities, and social skills. He added that in today's corporate world, not

only technical proficiency but also personality development and communication

skills are equally important, and the Yogi government is preparing youth in

this direction.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi