Kottayam: Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, George Kurian, on Friday inaugurated the PM-VIKAS Skill Development and Women Entrepreneurship Programme at the Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Kottayam. With this, IIIT Kottayam becomes the third institution in India and the first from the higher education sector selected to implement the PM-VIKAS scheme.

The initiative is part of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme, a flagship programme of the Government of India aimed at empowering minority communities through skill-based training and entrepreneurship development.

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A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on the occasion between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and IIIT Kottayam, formalising the institute’s participation in the scheme.

The Ministry was represented by Ankur Yadav, Deputy Secretary overseeing schemes including PM VIKAS, Seekho Aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, USTAAD, Nai Roshni, and others. IIIT Kottayam was represented by Dr M Radhakrishnan, Registrar. Following the signing, theMinister formally handed over the MoU to Prof Dr Prasad Krishna, Director (Additional Charge), IIIT Kottayam. Dr Chandra Shekhar Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, also presented the official allotment letter to the institute.

Key highlights of the programme:

  • 150 youth will receive hands-on training in Internet of Things (IoT)
  • 300 women will undergo leadership and entrepreneurship development training
  • All participants will receive a monthly stipend during the training period
  • Graduates of the programme will be supported through employment or self-employment opportunities, industry partnerships, and mentoring

The event began with a welcome address by Dr M Radhakrishnan, followed by an introduction to IIIT Kottayam and its vision by Prof Dr Prasad Krishna, who also serves as Director of NIT Calicut.

Delivering the keynote address, George Kurian emphasised the government’s commitment to equipping minority youth and women with industry-relevant skills for long-term economic empowerment. He interacted with student participants and encouraged them to make the most of the opportunity. Dr Chandra Shekhar Kumar, IAS, provided a detailed overview of the PM-VIKAS scheme’s objectives and its role in inclusive development through capacity-building and grassroots entrepreneurship.

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