The Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Palakkad, Kerala, on 8th October 2025 for a skilling project under the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS) scheme.
The signing ceremony was graced by Shri George Kurian, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, as the Chief Guest. The initiative aims to empower individuals from minority communities in Kerala by providing future-ready technical training in emerging fields, in line with the objectives of the PM VIKAS scheme.
Under this collaboration:
400 candidates from minority communities will be trained.
150 trainees each will be trained as Junior Chip Designers and Embedded Software Engineers.
100 trainees will be trained as Junior Engineers (Drone R&D).
The Ministry of Minority Affairs will bear the entire training cost, including stipends for trainees.
IIT Palakkad will serve as the implementing institution, responsible for conducting the training and providing placement and self-employment support post-completion.
The event witnessed the presence of Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar, Secretary (Minority Affairs); Professor A. Seshadri Sekhar, Director (IIT Palakkad); officials from the Ministry and IIT; faculty members; students; and PM VIKAS aspirants.
Speaking at the event, Shri George Kurian highlighted that PM VIKAS is a flagship initiative of the Government focused on socio-economic empowerment of minority communities through skill development and entrepreneurship promotion. He emphasized that such programs enhance employability, foster innovation, and support sustainable livelihoods.
The implementation of the project at IIT Palakkad, an Institute of National Importance, is expected to significantly contribute to capacity building and skill development among minority communities in Kerala, promoting inclusive growth and socio-economic upliftment.