1. Sakshat Amrita Vocational Education (SAVE): Transforming Rural Lives through Programmed Skill Development
During the academic year 2022-2023, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham’s Sakshat Amrita Vocational Education (SAVE) project continued its mission of delivering skill-based vocational training on a programmed basis to individuals from 108 villages across India. Initiated with a grant from the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), Government of India, SAVE began with two core courses and a haptic simulator. It has since evolved into a nationwide program, forming a consortium that collaborates to develop over 300 courses and simulators across various trades. This programmed approach allows the training to reach diverse communities consistently, ensuring widespread access to high-quality vocational education.
Throughout the 2022-2023 cycle, SAVE targeted essential industries, including construction, healthcare, agriculture, automotive, manufacturing, garments, and home decor. AMMACHI Labs at Amrita crafted a complete training model encompassing curriculum development, simulator software and hardware, instructional design, and deployment methods. Utilizing Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL), serious games, haptic technology, and human-computer interaction (HCI), SAVE makes practical skill-building accessible, particularly to rural learners. Participants engage in simulations that build motor skills and vocational knowledge, preparing them for meaningful careers in their chosen fields.
By delivering training every four months on a programmed basis, SAVE reaches thousands in these 108 villages, helping narrow the skill gap between rural and urban communities. This consistent, structured approach to skill development equips learners with the confidence and expertise to contribute economically and socially within their regions. Amrita’s SAVE project is a testament to its commitment to sustainable rural development and the empowerment of underserved populations across India.
2. Programmed Vocational Training for Rural Youth by Amrita-PMKVY
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) Special initiative, a project by the Government of India, offers vocational training to underprivileged youth from remote and rural regions, aged 18 to 35. Since its partnership with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham in November 2018, the program has provided skill development in industry-relevant fields, empowering participants to secure better livelihoods. Training occurs on campus every six months, and youth from 108 villages attend, gaining practical skills and opportunities that uplift their economic prospects. The program ran successfully in both 2022 and 2023, reflecting its continued impact.
To date, Amrita-PMKVY has trained over 800 young individuals from isolated and tribal communities across Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand. With nine training centers, the program offers courses in essential vocations such as Plumbing General, Automotive Service Technician, Self-Employed Tailor, General Duty Assistant (health care), and Domestic Data Entry Operator. Each session, held on a programmed basis every six months, brings participants together to reduce skill gaps and promote self-reliance, ensuring continuous development each year.
Beyond training for young adults, Amrita’s “Future Skills: Skills for Schools” program has also trained over 3,500 school students from grades 6 to 11 across 26 schools in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh since its 2016 launch. Another 1,000 children are set to benefit this year. Led by AMMACHI Labs, this initiative supports marginalized youth and students from remote villages who face limited resources and low career prospects, offering a sustainable pathway to skill enhancement and empowerment.