PM-VIKAS Skill Development Initiative Unveiled at IIIT Kottayam

Rapid Summary

• Union Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian inaugurated the PM-VIKAS Skill Development and Women Entrepreneurship Program at IIIT Kottayam.
• The initiative is part of the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM-VIKAS) scheme focused on empowering minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship training.
• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Minority Affairs and IIIT Kottayam. Key officials included deputy Secretary Ankur Yadav, Registrar M.Radhakrishnan, and Director Prasad krishna, among others.
• IIIT Kottayam is the third institution in India selected to implement this programme but marks the first from the higher education sector.
• Under this initiative:

– 150 youth will receive IoT-based hands-on training in technology fields.
– 300 women will undergo leadership and entrepreneurship development training.

• participants will be provided employment or self-employment opportunities through industry partnerships and mentoring.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The PM-VIKAS programme appears to align with India’s broader goal of social inclusion by targeting minority communities for skill enhancement via cutting-edge fields like IoT technology.This partnership with a higher education institution such as IIIT Kottayam reflects a strategic decision to leverage academia in fostering innovation-driven job creation.By focusing on both youth skills acquisition and women’s entrepreneurship, the initiative marks a dual approach toward capacity building within two key demographic segments.

The choice to integrate industry linkages for post-training employment ensures practical sustainability beyond mere knowledge transfer. However, as participation numbers are limited (150 youth, 300 women), scaling thes efforts across other regions may be essential for broader impact. The program’s emphasis on emerging technologies could also position participants to contribute meaningfully in sectors vital for India’s digital economy growth.

Link: Published – July 17, 2025