Sri Sathya Sai Manav Seva Foundation Launches Free Skill Development Centre to Empower Punjab’s Rural Youth
The Voice of Chandigarh
Sri Sathya Sai Manav Seva Foundation, Chandigarh, has executed an MoU with the Government of Punjab to establish a state-of-the-art, totally free Skill Development Centre for rural women and youth at Govt Polytechnic College, Ropar. The Centre, being set up in the revered memory of Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji, is scheduled to become operational in January 2026.
The Centre aims to impart high-end skill training to nearly 1,800 youth every year across about 30 trades, including advanced industry-oriented courses such as Robotic Welding, CNC Lathe Operations and Industrial Electrician, along with domestic trades like food processing, preservation and soap making, and self-employment trades such as motor mechanic, plumber and carpenter. Four courses will commence immediately, with additional courses being rolled out by March 2026, and the Centre is expected to be fully functional by the end of the year.
The prestigious IIT Ropar will provide intellectual and technical support, while leading industrial houses, including Toppan Film Specialities, are expected to extend CSR support. The Centre will also be supported by a hostel facility for around 700 students.
Trustee Amar Vivek Aggarwal, Advocate, informed that all courses will be run entirely free of cost, with a strong focus on quality training and life-skills development, enabling trainees to gain confidence and compete effectively in the corporate and self-employment sectors.
Dr. Satish Garg, Founder President of Sri Sathya Sai Manav Seva Foundation, expressed deep gratitude, stating that it was a matter of honour that Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Mann personally handed over the premises of Govt Polytechnic College, Ropar to the Trust. “This project marks a historic opportunity for our charitable trust to serve society and empower the youth on a large scale,” he said.
The formal commencement of the project was announced on the auspicious occasion of Lohri, with the Foundation expressing heartfelt gratitude to the Government of Punjab and reaffirming its commitment to nation-building through service, skill and self-reliance.
