Thanjavur: The Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation (TNSDC) is all set to launch a free training programme of short-term courses for unemployed youth on various trades.

The training would be provided through the private skill training institutes, known as training providers.

Hitherto, the task of selecting the candidates had been entrusted with the training providers. Unlike in the past, the candidates now will be directly selected by the District Employment Office of the respective district.

For this, TNSDC has approved 263 trades, including beautician, automobile, textile, refrigeration and air conditioning, and manufacture of leather products.

“The objective of providing these short-term courses is to help the candidates to enhance his/her skill and make them employable in the private sector,” said K Kalaichelvan, Deputy Director of Employment, District Employment Office, Thanjavur.

The targeted group is any person having passed a minimum of Class 8 and above. The duration of the short-term course is 13 days to three months depending upon the trade. At the rate of four hours per day, the candidate will be provided training up to 144 hours. The training will be given free of charge.

As for Thanjavur district, training will be provided on six trades, including beautician, tailoring, sewing machine operator, tourism and travel executive, and accounting. We have shortlisted 16 training providers, Kalaichelvan said.

“As for the quality of training, no compromise will be made. Biometric attendance is mandatory for candidates. At the end of the training, 70 per cent of the candidates will be placed in the private sector. We will also rope in the services of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), BHEL, Tiruchy, and the Indian Road Transport Training Institute located at Kumbakonam,” he stated.

In the first phase, 120 candidates have so far expressed willingness to undergo training in Thanjavur district. The training will be launched shortly, Kalaichelvan added.