11 June,2026 10:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The initiative aims to enhance employability among Mumbai’s youth in the 18 to 35 age group. PIC/ BMC
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration's âAtal Bihari Vajpayee Skill Development Centre' in Mumbai's Kandivali East, aimed at empowering youth through vocational training, was reviewed by the Women and Child Welfare Committee during an official visit on Thursday.
The Chairperson of the Women and Child Welfare Committee, Minal Turde, along with committee members, visited the centre to assess its functioning and ongoing skill development initiatives. Director (Planning), Dr Prachi Jambhekar was also present during the visit.
During the visit, the committee conducted a detailed inspection of the centre's operations, infrastructure, and the range of employment-oriented training programmes being offered to youth.
The centre provides free training in sectors such as hospitality, graphic design, cyber security, Japanese language, fashion designing, BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance), and artificial intelligence (AI). The programmes are being conducted in collaboration with industry partners including Blue Star, ITC, and Bajaj Finserv.
The initiative aims to enhance employability among Mumbai's youth in the 18 to 35 age group by equipping them with industry-relevant skills. Committee members expressed satisfaction with the centre's performance and functioning.
Discussions were also held on strengthening the centre's outreach and expanding its programmes to ensure that more eligible and deserving youth can benefit from the training initiatives in the future.
The Maharashtra government announced that students from the Maratha community will be eligible for a range of educational concessions and welfare benefits currently available to the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, according to a government resolution (GR) issued last week.
The decision is expected to expand access to scholarships, fee reimbursements, vocational training and other educational support schemes for Maratha students across the state beginning from the 2026-27 academic year.
The government resolution directs all concerned departments to implement the benefits and make adequate budgetary provisions in the current and upcoming financial years to support the schemes.
The move comes shortly after Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange ended his hunger strike following discussions with a government delegation that reportedly presented a 12-point proposal addressing several demands raised by the community.
Officials said the objective of the policy is to improve educational opportunities, skill development and access to financial assistance for students from the Maratha community.
