New Delhi:
Learn and earn. The Minority Affairs Ministry has launched an ambitious self-employment programme to target 70,000 youth from financially weak sections of minority communities.
Termed as
Seekho Aur Kamao (learn and earn), the Minority Affairs Ministry plans to spend Rs 150 crores in the next six months to train youth in various skills such as plumbing, masonry, carpentry among others.
UPA's latest initiative comes just days after it proposed to have brand ambassadors to promote its programmes and policies. The Minorities Affairs Ministry has written to spiritual leaders, sporting icons and celebrities.
The ministry has written to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, Shah Rukh Khan, Sania Mirza, boxer Mary Kom and legendary athlete Milkha Singh. Sources say only Mary Kom and Milkha Singh have indicated that they may be willing to accept the UPA's offer.
"Our skill development programme is part of UPA's programme," Union Minister for Minority Affairs K Rahman Khan told NDTV.
The move is controversial in an election year. When asked wouldn't identifying icons with a religion be seen as trying to polarise voters, Mr Khan told NDTV, "No, it's just the reverse. We want to say these people despite belonging to particular community, are respected by the whole nation."