Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Monday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Skill Development Centre of Excellence in Faridkot. Additionally, Kataria dedicated a freshly refurbished astroturf hockey stadium at the Government Brijindra College to the youth of the region.
Both community projects have been funded and established by Rajya Sabha member Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney through the Sun Foundation, a charitable institution established in 1998 with the objective of helping and empowering underprivileged sections of society.
The new facility marks the fifth such skill development centre established in Punjab by the Sun Foundation. It is designed to provide entirely free vocational training and job placement assistance to nearly 1,000 local youth each year.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Kataria lauded Dr Sahney and the Sun Foundation for their sustained commitment to social welfare and youth empowerment. “The Centre of Excellence will play a transformative role in the region by equipping the young people with modern, employable skills,” said Kataria, adding that it would open direct pathways to meaningful livelihoods and self-reliance for the youth.
Speaking on the occasion, Sahney said Faridkot, his birthplace, had shaped his values, character and life journey. “Returning to my hometown with a concrete opportunity to create hope and viable employment for its youth is an incredibly fulfilling milestone," he added.
The build out of the centre was funded by blending public development capital with private philanthropy. Over Rs 1 crore was furnished by MP Sahney to establish the facility.
Approximately Rs 6 lakh per month is the operational cost of the centre, which would be fully sponsored by the Sun Foundation to ensure all training remains completely free for students, said Kataria, adding that the centre would offer National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) certified training across nine industry-oriented trades.
Sahney said, “The Skill Development Centre of Excellence will provide completely free training and placement support in nine industry-oriented trades including junior nurse, fashion designing, assistant beauty therapist, front office operations, warehouse management and electrician. Every year, nearly 1,000 youth will receive industry-relevant skills and NSDC-certified training, enabling them to secure dignified employment and build better futures for themselves and their families."
Sahney added that the Sun Foundation was already successfully operating similar centres in Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Pahuwind, where over 5,500 youth had secured jobs after getting skilled over the past year. The Faridkot centre is another important step towards our mission of skilling over 10,000 Punjabi youth annually, said the MP.
About the refurbishment of the astroturf hockey stadium at Government Brijindra College in Faridkot, Sahney said Punjab had a glorious sporting legacy, particularly in hockey, and world-class sports infrastructure was essential to nurture future champions.
