Gem institute at Malappuram to be inaugurated

KOCHI: The  Institute of Gems and Jewellery (IGJ), which is treading a new path in skill development in the state,  will be inaugurated by  Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mr Rajiv Pratap Rudy,  at Inkel Greens Educity at Malappuram  on Saturday.  Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan and MPs E. Ahamed and P.V. Abdul Wahab will attend the programme.

The institute, which has already completed one year in operation, has affiliation with the Gem and Jewellery Skill Council of India of the National Skill Development Corp. (NSDC), promoted by the Government of India. The institute has been declared a centre of excellence in gem and jewellery and a champion skill training centre by the Gem & Jewellery Skill Council of India. “All 18 students who passed the diploma course of the institute in the first year have been gainfully employed,” said Mr K.T. Muhammed Abdusalaam, chairman of IGJ.

There will be four more courses at the institute. The institute was set up to fulfil  a surge in demand for skilled workers in the jewellery-making and allied fields around the world. “IGJ is focussed on providing well-trained candidates to domestic as well as foreign countries. There is high demand for skilled workers in the Middle East, South East Asian countries as well as European countries,” he said.

The institute currently has a strength of 280 students under Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) on various campuses. There is a special batch of students at the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) in  Thiruvananthapuram. “The IGJ aims to impart training for 1500 students in a year as part of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY). On successful completion of the course, the students will get certificates from the National Skill Development Corporation,” he said