HYDERABAD: Things seem to be unwell at the Society for Employment Promotion and Training in Twin Cities (Setwin), one of the oldest institutes in the city to offer vocational training to the unemployed. Aimed at being an arm to bridge the gap between unemployment of the youth and job avenues and opportunities, Setwin, set up in 1978 in the Old City, is now reduced to being a pale shadow of its glorious former self. Only five computer related courses namely DTP, MS office, Multi-media, Web designing and computer hard-ware are offered at Setwin institutes. “The franchisee institutes are offering more courses and issuing certificates with logos of Setwin. The facilities there are far better”, said Mr S.Q. Masood, a social activist.
About 25 private institutes have tied up with Setwin to impart training in various vocations to job-seekers. Students make frequent inquiries about courses like accounting packages, computer networking, animation, AutoCAD. “The courses offered here have few takers considering the changed mindset of the students. There has to be a balance between technical and technological courses”, Mr Mohd. Turab, another activist points out.
For girls interested in teacher training courses, there is the PPTTC in addition to traditional courses offered like beautician, cutting and tailoring, soft toy making, etc., Most of these courses are archaic with no thought given to the more in-demand courses. A paramedical course would be in high dema-nd. But stereotypical courses abound in the institute and not the latest ones. Moreover, even these courses are not upgraded to teach the latest developments and trends in the market. As Setwin does not offer paramedical courses and other sought-after courses, the Telan-gana State Minorities Finance Corporation has tied up with public sector companies like ECIL and hospitals like Apollo and Owaisi Hos-pital. Students are sent to private and public sector undertakings for training after being selected by the TSMFC.
An annual budget of Rs 2.5 crore for salaries and another Rs 50 lakh for expenses is provided by the government every year. This apart, Setwin generates its own revenue through trading in manufactured products at its training centres. Mr Inayath Ali Baqri, chairman Setwin, said that new courses have to be introduced.
“Mobile phone repairing, accounting, surveillance camera repairs and other courses will be started soon. Two more centres are started at Gajwel and Nizamabad”, he said. MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi had suggested that the government should merge Setwin with the minorities welfare department so that it would benefit a larger number of students.
