JSS (Jan Shikshan Sansthan) is an initiative by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India which aims to provide vocational training to non-literates, neo-literates etc. especially in rural regions by identifying skills that have a relevant and potential market in the region of their establishment. JSS is a Central Government initiative that has covered 27 states and 7 Union Territories as of now, of which Kerala state also is a part.

JSS aims to transform a labor-based economy into a knowledge-based economy. JSS promotes local trades and aims to create new opportunities for natives. Its objective is to uplift India’s rural population economically by imparting essential skills training, thereby enabling local trades to grow and thus create new opportunities for the natives of the region.

JSS offers courses in 22 sectors. The vocational curriculum plays a vital role in imparting skills to the beneficiaries. Since the inception of the scheme, priority is given to the need based vocational courses which are suitable to the locality or for a group.

Some of the popular sectors are beauty and wellness, handicrafts and carpets making, food processing, agriculture, medicinal plant cultivation, electronics and hardware, plumbing, IT – ITES etc.

The skills and vocational training by JSS (Jan Shikshan Sansthan, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India) imparted essential knowledge, both in theory and practise. Skill and vocational training programmes in organic farming and fashion jewelry making that were proposed by JSS were encouraged whole-heartedly by the Government of Kerala. Thus JSS conducted vocational training programmes for imparting new skills for local trades and creation of new opportunities with the help of Kerala state’s Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare that saw very active participation here at SIMHAR.

Imparting knowledge and essential skills through these two vocational programmes i.e., organic farming and fashion jewelry making were introduced as certified vocational and training programmes so that the participants could apply both the theoretical knowledge and practical skills they learnt to start a new venture of their own, once they are integrated back into society.

JSS enabled the participants to enrich their knowledge about the marketable options of organic farming and fashion jewelry making as well.

While the theory classes on organic farming had the participants actively engaged on the theoretical knowledge about the varieties of seeds that we have in Kerala, the seasons for their appropriate sowing, the scientific distance to be kept while sowing them, the depth of sowing the seeds, the amount of organic manure and compost that must be applied etc., the practical classes had all the participants enthusiastically engrossed in the application of all of the above mentioned. The class on floriculture also was praiseworthy. The participants were able to see and distinguish between different varieties of flowers as well as their marketable options.

The land and soil for sowing and cultivation was prepared first. The seeds were sowed, they were watered daily, the participants took active care of the seedlings to grow and flourish, their growth was nourished by the application of organic manure, compost and pesticides like fish amino acid, egg amino acid, vermi compost, bordeaux mixture(or bordo mixture) etc. The participants also prepared a nursery of green Amaranthus plants after the seeds started sprouting into small plants. The seedlings were replanted into growbags, and thus the nursery was prepared.  It was definitely a proud day for the participants of organic farming class when the Amaranthus plants were ready for harvest.

The fashion jewelry making classes had the participants, comprising mostly women, venturing into an area of creativity that demanded imagination, creative skills, patience, a mind that could mould the beads and thread given to them, under the guidance of their teacher into a master piece work of art comprising of enthralling earrings, necklaces, bangles, bracelets, anklets etc.

Both the Organic farming as well as fashion jewelry making vocational and certified skill training programmes held at SIMHAR imparted the essential knowledge as per its vision, and at SIMHAR, these certified skill training programmes gave the opportunity for the participants to learn new skills that could be turned and converted into new ventures when they are rehabilitated into society, taking into consideration the potential marketing options in their locality.

Thus, SIMHAR along with JSS provided the opportunity for the participants/students of the above mentioned skill and vocational training programmes to grow individually and socially, imparted and inculcated positive values, optimism, confidence and positivity. In addition, they learnt what working as a team and positive social interaction means. Above all, it  helped, moulded and equiped them towards the knowledge and practicality of a new skill, thus encouraging them to pursue new opportunities, thereby transform the knowledge they acquired into a great economical support for their future.