Anantapur: Training centre for jobless youth in shambles

Anantapur: Sri Krishnadevaraya Institute of Academic Development (SKIAD) which rendered yeomen services to students and unemployed and unskilled youth until 2015, had downed its shutters since 2016 and lay in shambles, defeating the noble objectives of boosting the skills of youth and their employability.

SKD University founded the Institute in 1995 but after 2015, the varsity turned lethargic and was a mute spectator to the virtual loot of its infrastructure. The buildings are now in a dilapidated condition.

Students who didn't get placements after completing their degree courses used to have training courses for competitive examinations. Courses offered at SKIAD are industry and job-oriented. Coaching in SKIAD promise placement assistance and guidance to students belonging to rural background.

The trainers used to design and deliver the needful training on the skill set that equips the students to achieve their dream job.

The courses can be taught in small classrooms equipped with essentials. These institutes keep their costs low and thus can offer trainings at free of cost. Classrooms at SKIAD have good infrastructure to conduct a real-time programming lab for the students. The purpose of SKIAD is to stimulate the creativity of students and enhance their employability skills. Students acquire the entrepreneurship competences by applying the problem-solving methodology to their innovative projects based on sustainable development. Skills and qualification mismatches persist despite the expansion of education, which is poorly aligned to the variable structure of abilities required by employers.

Faculty at SKIAD helps the students to fulfill their dreams. They tried to stimulate student's competences to be capable to take the opportunities they will run into after finishing their studies. There are three classrooms, two tutorials, library, few computers, desks, office tables, fans and permanent infrastructure to run the classes was provided. Coaching for GATE, Banking, VAO, Panchayat Secretary and other competitive examinations were conducted regularly till 2015.

SKIAD was completely closed in 2016. Several organisations have given representations to Vice Chancellor's about the plight of SKIAD. Philanthropists have donated necessary infrastructure to run the institute. Now the books, computers, desks, tables, fans, office furniture disappeared in SKIAD. Hundreds of students belonging to underprivileged sections and rural background were benefitted from SKIAD and got decent jobs in public sector. Faculty from JNTU Anantapur used to take classes for IES and GATE.