Nuh administration launches programme to upskill drivers

Nuh district administration, in collaboration with two agencies, has launched a special training programme to upskill drivers to cope in the post-pandemic scenario

Nuh district administration, in collaboration with two agencies, has launched a special training programme to upskill drivers to cope in the post-pandemic scenario. The programme is aimed at providing them with access to more employment opportunities in the Middle East get and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Nuh administration launches programme to upskill drivers

Officials said that more than 600 drivers have registered for a pilot project, and 100 of them have consented to participate in a workshop organised by the Indian Institute of Technical & Vocational Training and the district administration. Out of the 100, 20 candidates are ready for language skill training in accordance with the requirements of Dubai regulatory agencies.

According to Ajay Kumar, deputy commissioner, Nuh, driving cabs and trucks constitutes the primary profession of people in Nuh district. “We have organised a training programme for them to ensure they are placed in other countries and improve access to job opportunities in the district,” he said.

The programme will engage more people and help them get employed and stay away from criminal activities.

Mohammad Aarif, project manager, Common Service Center Scheme, said that due to the lack of industries and other sources of employment in the district, the programme will help young men secure jobs. “A lot of young people in the district are engaged as drivers, mostly with cab aggregators. There are also a number of truck drivers from the district,” he said.

Arif said men between 22 and 33 years of age with minimum qualifications (class 10), with one year of light vehicle experience, will be eligible for this program. “We have reached out to 603 candidates from the district and those who expressed interest were asked to attend an initial screening to check their suitability. We have conducted online screening and 24 people have shown interest in the four-wheeler program. The only challenge in the entire program is that the drivers will have to clear the English communication level, necessary to communicate with passengers in foreign countries,” he said.

Officials said there are hardly any industries in the district and hence no job opportunities for young people. Shokat Ali, social worker, Khajli Kalan village, Punhana, said that if job opportunities are created for young people from the district, the crime rate will go down. “Those who are struggling to make ends meet will be focused and pursue a goal. People want to go abroad because foreign jobs pay well and they can stay away from criminal activities,” he said.

The administration is also preparing them to speak and understand basic English to ensure they get selected after clearing the test. Teams are conducting an offline mobilisation drive in Nuh attended by over 100 drivers, of whom 35 have submitted their applications in June. “The teams are counseling them and guiding them to improve their driving and language skills. The drivers will attend a specialised school in Rajasthan’s Ajmer, well-equipped with simulators and dedicated driving test tracks to provide high-quality training to candidates. The centre will also provide industry-specific specialised training as well,” said Arif.

Aneeb Khan, a resident of Punhana in Nuh, said that this programme will change the outlook of the district. “There are hardly any job opportunities in the district and we don’t get jobs easily because of some miscreants. Every young man dreams to go abroad and earn good money. This initiative will motivate the young generation to study and take up driving as a profession,” he said.

The Indian government launched Training for Emirates Jobs And Skills (Tejas), a Skill India international project, in March this year with an aim to create a skilled Indian workforce in the UAE. The Centre is scaling up its existing skill development training programmes to allow workers from India to tap work opportunities abroad. In line with the government’s intent, the National Skill Development Corporation, under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, will train, certify and place 10,000 Indian workers in the UAE in partnership with some of the leading employers of the region.