Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) [India] July 11 : Insurgency-hit Dantewada district is scripting a new identity for itself by producing market-ready youths skilled in coding language through the campaign 'Nav Gurukul'.
Nav Gurukul is an innovative campaign of district-level being run from education city, and under this initiative, we select 30-50 students for training in modern technologies like coding, artificial intelligence, computer skills and others, said Dantewada Collector Kunal Dudawat.
He further informed that the objective of this training is to make them market-ready and ensure professional employment. Last year, 30 students received training under this campaign, and remarkable placement results were witnessed. Through this move, we are making the existing youth of Dantewada market ready and preparing them for future technologies so that they can obtain better employment avenues and simultaneously, companies get trained staff.
Shedding details about the initiative being taken to make students tech-savvy, the Collector said that to expose school children to modern technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotics, space technologies and others, the district administration has developed a science centre and integrated it with the school education system.
We are making the graduate and polytechnic (degree holders) market ready for the field of coding and other modern technology by subjecting them to one-and-a-half years of training through 'Nav Gurukul', said Dudawat.
Nav Gurukul is offering two courses that include coding and business, said Tripti Bisen from the admission and outreach section of Nav Gurukul.
She further elaborated that in the coding course, students are taught about how to create websites, applications and games. Students are primarily learning languages like HTML, Java, Python and others. In a business course, students learn about how to start a business and prepare them for startups as well as obtain good jobs.
As many as 150 seats are available in Nav Gurukul, but 100 students are currently studying here, said Bisen, elaborating that seats are available for girl students.
Mostly, the students came here from blocks-Kuakonda, Katekalyan, Geedam and from the remote villages of Dantewada, she added.
Bisen further informed that students who have passed 10th or 12th, are currently studying, or are pursuing graduation, can also study here simultaneously. Last year, 70 students received placements.
Divya, who secured a job after studying here, said that after joining Nav Gurukul, she learned coding languages Java, HTML, CSS, and Python.
"I have completed the course in six months and managed to secure a job as a Software Developer at a tech company in Jagdalpur. Apart from coding, I have learned soft skills like teamwork, time management and leadership development," said Divya Sola, a student hailing from Bijapur.
According to student Debashish from Bacheli in Dantewada, after the commencement of Nav Gurukul, the youths benefited a lot because they didn't have to pursue another degree. For instance, doing a BTech in Computer Science would cost a lot, but here the course is completely free. If anyone wants to learn coding, this is a great place to do so.
Gungun, a student from Dantewada, said that ever since she joined Nav Gurukul, her confidence has significantly increased. From the induction day itself, she learned many new things and developed leadership qualities along with the discovery of strengths within herself.
"Nav Gurukul also helped in improving her English-speaking skills and boosting confidence. I always had an interest in programming, but didn't know anything about it. I used to wonder how I would manage. After getting information about Nav Gurukul, I decided to apply, cracked the entrance exam, and joined the centre," said Gungun.