ASIA/INDIA - Salesians: skills and employment for two million disadvantaged youths

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) – BASE, a plan for professional training and employment for more than two million disadvantaged youngsters in rural areas of India, mainly of Dalits and no caste families, has been launched by the Salesian Fathers in cooperation with the Indian Minister for Rural Development. BASE, the Bosco Academy for Skills & Employment plan, operates thanks to a net work of Don Bosco Technical Institutes
Fides learned that the Plan provides free training in skills in information technology, management and farming techniques in view future of employment for disadvantaged youngsters in rural areas.
Don Bosco Tech, a network of 125 Salesian Centres in 25 Indians states, is the largest NGO operating in India in the sector of professional training. Salesian Centres offer training to youngsters in social and economically marginalised areas, children of families living below the poverty line. This concrete promotion of human, social and economic development is offered to young people in the poorest parts of India, cut off from major urban and industrial development, Fides learned from Salesian Fr. Ramesh Cherian.
“By 2020 we hope to have trained and created employment for more than two million youngsters”, happy and confident DB Tech network national coordinator Salesian Fr. A.M. Jose told Fides. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 24/7/2010)