The Central Government will provide training to tribal students in semiconductor technology in collaboration with Bengaluru based Indian Institute of Science (IISC). In partnership with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the tribal affairs ministry also plans to use satellite-based technology on pilot basis to improve mobile and internet connectivity in remote tribal villages.
Officials say that there are high prospects of jobs in semiconductor industry in the coming years against the backdrop of India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) launched by the government.
The ISM is a specialised and independent business division within the Digital India Corporation that aims to build a vibrant semiconductor and display ecosystem to enable India’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design. The Tribal Ministry in partnership with the IISC will establish a training fab unit which will offer a course semiconductor technology to tribal students.
An official said 2100 NSQF-certified level 6.0 and 6.5 trainings in semi-conductor technology with potential of high paying placements in the industry. The IISc Director G Rangarajan said the country wants to become self-dependent and self-sufficient in the areas of semiconductors and the institute provide the best possible training to tribal students.
Launching the initiatives at an event here, the Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda said the ministry wants to connect them with the PM-JANMAN scheme. The PM-JANMAN with a budget of Rs 24,000 crores focuses on eleven critical interventions through nine ministries and is aimed at improving the socio-economic conditions of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups by saturating PVTG households and habitations with basic facilities.
When we are moving forward to a Viksit Bharat, it is important that tribals are not left behind, the minister said. Munda also asked officials to give more emphasis to mobile connectivity in remote tribal areas. The officials said many tribal villages face inadequate connectivity and terrain difficulties, and the ministry in partnership with ISRO plans to use satellite-based technology on pilot basis to improve connectivity of such villages.
“V-SAT stations will be established to resolve connectivity issues (community internet, e-governance, societal development) in 80 villages in Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha. The project will be extended to other states in the next phase,” an official said.
ISRO charman, S Somanath, in a video message said the VSAT Connectivity will help the Ministry to handle education and healthcare related activities. He said that the ministry could leverage satellite-based technology in areas like agriculture and identifying tribal land going ahead. The ministry also signed pacts for partnership with AIIMS Delhi to establish the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Chair on Tribal Health and Haematology at the renowned health institute.
It will serve as a multi-disciplinary platform for conducting advanced research on tribal health issues with particular emphasis on sickle-cell anaemia. AIIMS will also organise training programs for doctors and paramedical staff working in tribal areas. The ministry is also collaborating with IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta to develop a country wide entrepreneurship ecosystem for tribal youth.
This partnership aims to create a sustainable social impact through tribal enterprises and startups, and raise awareness about entrepreneurship among tribal communities. This collaboration will provide comprehensive support, including ideation, funding, incubation, branding, marketing, and access to national and international markets to tribal artisans and producers, thereby enabling wider market access for their products, the officials said.
