Ahmedabad, 4 July 2012

Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched EMPOWER initiative at a function held at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar.

EMPOWER is a short form of electronic manpower and the programme will provide basic computer training to the people. The aim of this initiative is to take IT knowledge till the very last person and to bring every individual into the global mainstream through the application and knowhow how cutting edge technology. This training will be available at the Taluka level to youngsters above 14 years and those who have passed Class V at school. After completing the training, the youngsters will get certificate by GCVT as well as Microsoft.

A token fee of Rs. 50/- would be charged for the course and SC, ST, BPL Women and Physically Challenged candidates will avail of the training free of cost. The training will include internet, basic software skills such as MS Office, MS Word, Excel as well as even social media.

The initiative is also extremely flexible in terms of timings. Candidates can choose a time that is convenient for them to learn. It could be a day, half-day, morning or evening time for training.

This year, Gujarat is commemorating 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda as the ‘Year of Youth Power.’ Taking inspiration from Swami ji’s vision, there is a major emphasis on arming the youth with necessary skill development and EMPOWER will surely add might to these endeavors.

Launching function

Launching the state-wide eMPOWER campaign today with a view to provide quality computer training to the youths of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi said that in coming time the people who do not possess the knowledge of computers will be considered illiterate and the state government cannot afford to let any youth of the state to remain uneducated of computer skills.

The eMPOWER campaign has been organized by State’s Labour and Employment department with a view to equip state’s youth with the computer skill that is most required in 21st century. With the commencement of online registration for the programme, about 1.04 lakh youths have already registered themselves. These youths include 35,000 women and about 84% of the candidates are from rural areas. Youths of around 620 organizations, including, Kaushalya Vardahan Kendras (KVK), ITI s and employment exchanges, can register themselves for the basic course (BCC), provided they are of the age of above 14 and std-V pass. The fee for the basic programme is Rs.50 while SC/ST, BPL, disabled and socially-educationally-economically backward candidates can avail the training without any cost. The candidates will be given training by the instructors trained by world-famous IT company Mircrosoft. The candidates will also be given BCC certificate from Microsoft. Around 2.25 youths will be covered under BCC course in the first phase.

Speaking on the occasion Chief Minister recalled that today was the Nirvan Day of Swami Vivekananda who left his mortal body 110 years back. The state is celebrating the current year as ‘Yuva Shakti Varsh’ in the memory of Swami Vivekananda. He appealed youths to seize the opportunity which the state government is providing through eMPOWER programme and fulfill the ideals of Swami Vivekananda by completing the mission of Swamiji.

“Nearly 65% of the Indian population comprises of youths. If this massive strength be given a chance, it is capable of competing with China in the front of technology”, he said. China had undertaken a campaign for imparting knowledge of English language to its youths; similarly, with the SCOPE campaign, launched by Gujarat government, lakhs of youths have been trained in the conversation in English language.

The state has already installed round-the-clock electricity in all 18,000 villages through Jyotigram scheme and has also equipped the villages with broadband connectivity, he said.

Speaking about the state government’s measures in the field of education Chief Minister said that during last decade the number of universities has reached to 42 from 11. The seats of diploma/degree engineering courses have been increased from 23,000 to 1.23 lakh.

Speaking on the occasion Labour Minister Vajubhai Vala said the youths should take Swami Vivekananda’s message as the source of inspiration for getting success. He congratulated the youths for enrolling in the eMPOWER programme.

Minister of State Liladharbhai Vaghela described the programme important for the empowerment of the youths. Even as when the state government is celebrating the current year in the memory of Swami Vivekananda the eMPOWER programme will be important for youths in building career, he said

In the beginning, Principal Secretary to Labour P.Paneervel welcomed the dignitaries and gave outline of the programme.

Agriculture Minister Dilip Sanghani, Education Minister Ramanlal Vora, Minister of State for Education Jaysinh Chauhan, Minister of State for Higher Education Mrs. Vasuben Trivedi, MoS Vasanbhai Ahir, Jitendra Sukhadiya, MP Purshottam Rupala, State planning commission Chairman Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Kaushik Patel, Chief Secretary A K Joti, senior officials, Group Director of Mircrosoft’s Public Sector Ranvirsinh, dignitaries and trainees in large number were present on the occasion.