Concept of Livelihood School in Sikkim – A Gandhian Philosophy

CONCEPT OF LIVELIHOOD SCHOOL IN SIKKIM – A GANDHIAN PHILOSOPHY

S.D. DHAKAL

State Institute of Capacity Building SICB,Karfectar,Jorthang

The Concept of Capacity Building of all sections of youth in Sikkim was conceived by Dr. Pawan Kumar Chamling in 2002 and issued the directions to all the Departments to submit the proposal for building capacity amongst the youths in particular and public in general.  The concept took off in a slow pace in the first year as the philosophy of the programme was not understood in depth, however, the Departments like Horticulture, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Industries etc., made efforts on capacity building programme in related field and training  was imparted in the grass-root level.   The Government incorporated Career Option & Employment and Skill Development and Chief Minister’s Self Employment Schemes in the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Training, Public Grievances to give more focus on the subject. The Philosophy of Capacity Building is directly in line with Gandhi’s Philosophy of imparting training to the grass-root people, so that they can earn their livelihood by means of production of goods and for self requirement which was otherwise being brought from outside before, as a result of which some sector of Agriculture, Horticulture and Milk Production has been increased.

The Chief Minister in his budget speech in the State Legislative Assembly on 26^th March 2007 announced the establishment of a full-fledged Directorate of Capacity Building.  Consequently, a separate Directorate of Capacity Building under the Department of Personnel, Administrative Reforms and Training, Public Grievances, Career Option & Employment and Skill Development and Chief Minister’s Self Employment Schemes was established in July 2007 itself.  After the establishment of Directorate of Capacity Building, a large number of youths were sent to different training Institutions within the Country and outside for obtaining various trainings to earn their livelihood.  The Directorate of Capacity Building made a significant transformation in the mind of youths to obtain training and start their own venture.  They were supported with the financial assistance as loan without interest for the initial period which helped many youths to start their entrepreneurs in different parts of the State.  A large number of success stories of the entrepreneurs who became the torchbearers to others.

The Gandhian Philosophy to provide such trainings without any fee was made the basis of the nomination for the training by the Directorate of Capacity Building so that the poorest of the poor also could obtain the training outside the state and became capable to earn their livelihood.  The trainees from the marginalized section of the society who had never dreamt to achieve that goal, however, it became possible by virtue of the Government Policy to train the youths similar to to the Gandhian Philosophy.

The State Government was accepted wisdom to make the policy to impart training within the State to those who are slow learners and could not attend the minimum qualification required for sending outside for the training.  Dr. Chamling, the Chief Minister was looking for the opportunity to take care of the poorest of the poor who are from the far flung areas of Sikkim and who are very poor and cannot afford to obtain training because of geographical, economical and social margilisation, he conceived to establish an Institute within the State under which Livelihood Schools in those areas could be established.  As a result of which a policy was framed as follows:

Policy:

1. Set up an autonomous body to directly intervene in the building of capacity and capability of young people and place them in the opportunities that are otherwise going to people from outside the State. This will be one of the arms of the Government in its overall Livelihood Mission.
2. Constantly monitor the laws and legal requirements to regulate the employment scenario in the State.
3. Constantly interact with private, Central Government and other players to see that all the opportunities will be made available to local youths who are well positioned to do it as well as facilitate such proactive action.
4. Constantly monitor the remuneration and other facilities that the Private and Public Sector units offer to the youths of the State and see to it that there is no discrimination in this with respect to that on offer in other States in the Country.
5. Make available every year a State of the Employment Status Report and place table it in the Legislative Assembly.
6. Provide adequate financial resources for the first five years to the Body set up under (1) above.

The State Government in its Cabinet decision on 31^st October 2009 agreed in principle towards the establishment of 31 Livelihood Schools in all Territorial Assembly Constituencies. Again to translate the resolution into reality the Cabinet in its meeting on 17^th Nov. 2009 decided to set up Livelihood Schools with the field of trades locations in the Constituencies. The establishment of State Institute of Capacity Building, Karfectar, South Sikkim and all thirty one Livelihood Schools where the capacities of the unemployed youths will be developed to enable them to earn their livelihood and make them economically sound.

The State Government Policy is to have zero tolerance towards youth unemployment which has been identified as a scourge in our society. Therefore ,to address all these  important issues, the  State Institute of Capacity Building (SICB) have been established  to run  diversified  trainings  in the Institute and  as well as in all Livelihood Schools all over the State.

The establishment of Livelihood Schools where the capacities of the unemployed to develop to enable them to earn their livelihood and make them economically sound. This also will help the State Government  to eradicate poverty  from the state by 2015.The cause is great and effect is highly  impressive from the date of the inception of the State Institute of Capacity Building  at Karfectar, South Sikkim .

It is encouraging to mention here that Hon’ble MLA Smt. Tulsi Devi Rai moved a Resolution in the State Assembly  in December 2009  seeking that unemployed persons of the  state could be made skilled  work force through various Livelihood Schools to be opened in all the Constituencies .The  resolution adopted as under :-

Resolution No. 6

“With the objective to achieve greater empowerment and to develop entrepreneurial capability of unemployed persons of the state , the members of the Sikkim Legislative  Assembly unanimously resolved that unemployed persons of the State would be made skilled work force through various Livelihood Schools to be opened in different Constituencies and through other training courses in the state.”

The Gandhian Philosophy of developing the course contents by the State Board of Livelihood Schools and the State Institute of Capacity Building according to the requirement of the job market and for earning livelihood in their respective village is fully translated under the aegis of State Institute of Capacity Building.  The courses are so designed that the Philosophy of “Karma” and “Gyana” of Gandhiji are amalgamated with the entrepreneurship capacity by imparting training on Entrepreneurship with the help of Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship, Guwahati.  The modern philosophy to train the manpower according to the job market and requirement to the Society is fully comparable with the Gandhian philosophy.