Two hundred young men and women from the bylanes of Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti today completed a government-aided skill training programme aimed at enhancing their capabilities to make a living.

Vocational training in a variety of trades like computer skills, handicrafts like Mughal ceramic tile making and block printing, travel and tourism, building technologies like masonry and technical trades like plumbing, refrigeration and book binding, were provided to 240 people since the inception of the programme last year.

40 per cent of those trained have already secured employment or provided assistance to form self-help groups to create and market craft products.

Another 35 of them are now pursuing higher trainings, according to the Aga Khan Foundation that initiated the project. The Aga Khan Foundation is actively involved in the redevelopment of the Nizamuddin Basti area.

The programme was flagged off by Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja last year with the signing of an MoU between the Aga Khan Foundation and HUDCO.

Since then, the participants were provided vocational training in the programme that intertwined in it elements of cultural and heritage preservation.

The Aga Khan Foundations said it would monitor the progress of all 240 participants for a year during which time additional assistance, where required, will be provided.

"Our partnership with HUDCO has been very critical in benefiting a significant number of people, especially youth and women, who despite living in the heart of the capital city have been unable to access urban services," said Ratish Nanda, Project, Director, Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

The MoU signed last year ensured a co-funding of Rs 20 lakh from the government-owned company and the job-linked training programme would guarantee appropriate jobs to those involved.

As part of the project, the women and youth were also trained in the fields of education, health, sanitation, waste management, cultural revival, open space development, conservation and vocational training in order to improve the quality of life of the local community.