Special initiatives under diversity inclusion projects of Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission

The Kerala Knowledge Economy Mission (KKEM) has launched a number of special initiatives for transgender people, people with disabilities, tribal youth and women on career breaks as part of diversity inclusion projects.

These projects are not implemented by the KKEM alone, but in collaboration with the nodal departments, using the funds provided by them for various initiatives.

For example, Pride, a project to create jobs for transgender people in the aviation sector, is being implemented with funds allocated by the Ministry of Social Justice for skills development initiatives. The courses are completely needs-based. Keeping this in mind, three courses in the aviation sector have been designed by the Additional Skill Acquisition Program (ASAP) Kerala. The two-month free in-patient training at ASAP Center Ernakulam is open to 30 candidates. The project secures scholarship and placement. KKEM expects to start the training next month and complete it in February.

Oppara is a project implemented by KKEM with the support of the Scheduled Tribe Development Department. It will be tested at five locations – Aralam in Kannur, Thirunelli and Noolpuzha in Wayanad, Nilambur in Malappuram and Attappady in Palakkad. The Unnathi Project targets people from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. ASAP offers two courses – Machine Operator Injection Molding and Machine Operator Assistant Plastic Processing – under Oppara and Unnathi at its training center in Lakkidi, Palakkad, with a focus on tribal youth. The residential courses last six months and three months. In order to prevent the problem of school dropouts, community coordinators organize an orientation program at the project locations and meet regularly with parents.

The KKEM will implement the Thozhilarangathekku for single women in Palakkad in collaboration with the All India Democratic Women’s Association. As part of this, a virtual job fair for women recently took place. Two courses are offered as part of the Thozhilarangathekku. One of them includes skills training with the support of Kerala Chalachitra Academy. The ongoing 15-day training also includes trans women candidates.

An entrepreneurship development program will be conducted for 80 candidates from eight districts in collaboration with Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation.

As a sub-project, a “Back to School” program is being tested in collaboration with the job search platform Foundit in 22 districts of the Kazhakuttam constituency near the Technopark. Women taking career breaks receive soft skills training such as interviewing and language training.

Samagra is an initiative aimed at people with disabilities. As part of this, with the support of the Grow Training Center, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation conducted an offline course for people with disabilities in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode. An online course will also be launched next month in collaboration with Youth for Jobs. Initially, almost 1,000 candidates will be trained. Training content is tailored to candidates’ educational background and all candidates receive training in soft skills, interview skills, digital literacy and interpersonal skills. Sign language training will be included.