Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)

Union Minister for Minority Affairs recently launched innovative entrepreneurship and skill development programme of Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS)– through leading national/ international experts in different skill sets.
Under this new initiative under MANAS there is a proposal to use leading celebrities in various skill sets as the driving force behind the skill development projects, in their respective fields, for the benefit of marginalised sections of minority communities.
There are a large number of leading experts in different trades/skill sets, who belong to Minority Communities. They are icons for youths all over the country particularly for minority communities, in their respective fields. MANAS plans to use them in making quality training available at one’s doorsteps.
Also, by this path-breaking initiative, Ministry of Minority Affairs (MOMA) can utilize vast potential of existing network of Madrasa by opening Skill Development Centres in Madrasa with the consent of Madrasa.
Apart from bridging the trust deficit of the minority communities, MANAS will be able to provide door-step access to quality skill development training to marginalised sections of Minority communities particularly to women and girl child, for providing them gainful employment/self-employment.
About MANAS:

• MANAS is an ambitious and over-arching skill development architecture, aimed at providing an all India Level training framework, based upon tie-ups with National/International training organizations (on PPP mode) for imparting training to the minority population, for skills that are currently in demand. It will also provide concessional credit for minority community after meeting their skill need for expanding their existing businesses and setting up new businesses.
• MANAS is a multi-dimensional organization and it includes a special vertical for identifying, supporting, and promoting those arts and crafts of minority community which are getting phased out due to globalization
  

Analysis:

• MANAS aims at bringing together key stakeholders, including specialized trainers, leading industry bodies, community leaders and trainees to avail the benefit of quality training at one's doorsteps
• To increase coverage of the programme under MANAS, the ministry has recently increased the income eligibility criterion for trainees from Rs 1.03 lakh to Rs 6 lakh (annual) to facilitate provision of training and concessional credit. This change of base is likely to benefit 12 to 13 crore people
• The training programmes will ensure 100 percent employment for trainees. Further, based on the outcome of the programmes, the ministry will expand the MANAS network to help it acquire an all-India footprint.

By: Vishal