Officials during the inauguration of the vocational training centre in Dabhol, India.
Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, in collaboration with Sarvenjan Kokan Foundation, yesterday opened a QR3m worth vocational training centre in Dabhol, in India's western state of Maharashtra, to provide professional education opportunity to poor students in the region.
The project “ Hamad Bin Jassim Industrial Training institute” is located at a distance of about 250km from Mumbai, the financial capital of India, in the hard-to-access mountain areas.
A chopper was pressed into service to carry Qatari officials, local government representatives and special guests from Mumbai to Dabhol to participate in the opening ceremony.
The event was attended by Mohamad bin Khater Al Khater, Ambassador of Qatar to India, Anant Geete, India's Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Ramdas Kadam, India's state Environment Minister and Mohamad Al Hajiri , CEO of Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation.
The centre was built in collaboration with a local development society “Kokan Sarvangin” in three years, wit the aim to offer vocational courses for up to 200 students in a year in the area with a population of about 500,000.
The centre will train and qualify technical and professional cadres in four main specialisations — welding, electricity, mechanic and diesel mechanic to help the beneficiaries to get job in big industries operating in the region.
“The centre will help boost the relations between Qatar and India. The countries already enjoyed historical relations in various fields — social, cultural and trade,” said by Al Khatir, the Ambassador in his inaugural speech. “Jassim Foundation is playing leading role in providing humanitarian aid across the globe and the centre is best example of such activities," said Al Khatir.
“The centre will prepare generations capable of keeping abreast of the latest professions, including solid knowledge, clear vision and use of the up-to-date technical developments to pave the way for a bright future and enhance their job opportunities,” said Al Hajiri, the CEO of the Foundation in his speech at the event. The project costs nearly QR3m and expected to accommodate between 128 and 200 students annually.
The specific region was selected for the implementation of the project because of the presence of a number of major companies and factories. It has three of the largest shipyards, as well as energy companies such as Enron. Graduates of the institute will be certified by the Indian government and will be accommodated in existing factories because of the high demand for these technical trades. Jassim and Hamad Bin Jassim is a private and self-funded Charitable Foundation that aims to assist and empower vulnerable communities through its long-term development projects that focus on sustainability and holistic approaches.
“The registration is expected to begin in July according to the academic year of the country," Hassan Chougule, Chairman of Kokan Development Society told The Peninsula on the sideline of the event.
"The candidates holding certificates of grade 8 to 10 could apply for the admission. The most deserving students with special focus on poor and marginalised section of the community will benefit from the programmes offered by the centre," he added.
