Soon, civic body will help train citizens to get jobs

Those between 18 and 35 years are eligible; need to pay only 5% of the course cost

CBD BELAPUR: With the launch of 18 new vocational courses, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) will now be giving citizens new opportunities for employment.

On Thursday, the standing committee of the civic body approved the proposal for rates for the courses that will be paid for by the civic body. Following a tender process, NMMC has also shortlisted private agencies to provide training to those who will be selected by civic officials.

Students with a family income lesser than Rs1.80 lakh a year, will be given a preference for the training. The only criteria are that applicants should be Navi Mumbai residents for at least three years and in the age group of 18 -35.

Further, while NMMC will bear most of the cost of the training, trainees will only have to pay 5% of the cost to the civic body.

“We will soon be inviting applications from residents across all sections of society. Those found to be eligible, will be sent to institutes that have been shortlisted for the training,” said NN Alhat, deputy municipal commissioner (schemes).

For students who live in a node where the agency does not have an office, arrangements will be made to ensure that the student does not lose out. “If it is a driving course, the institute will send the vehicle to the node where the applicant resides,” said Alhat.

Although the civic body has currently targeted 5,000 applicants, Alhat said they would accept more if they were found to be eligible.

Earlier, only the Nasik municipal corporation had started a similar scheme. “Following our initiative, Thane and Mumbai municipal corporations may also soon follow suit,” said Alhat.