Union minority affairs minister Najma Heptulla and Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh on Monday jointly launched the country's first pilot project as part of a skill development programme for madarsa students.

The training programme was launched from Idara-e-Shariah Madarasa, Sultanganj (Patna City) with the simultaneous launch of the project from two other madarsas in East Champaran district. The training programme is aimed at providing an opportunity of skill development training to minority students at these institutions without any intervention in its educational activities.

The training programme, under the skill development programme of Maulana Azad National Academy for Skill (MANAS) launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, is being undertaken in traditional educational institutions of minorities, for the first time. Sources said the idea behind selecting the Sultanganj-based madarsa, a minority dominated area of Patna City, is to give a message to minorities that the BJP-led government at the Centre believes in the policy of taking along all sections of society.

Even the two Union ministers tried to convince the 200 and odd people from minority communities attending the function that Modi had a vision for all. Having a word of praise for Modi, Heptulla who is the grand-niece of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, said: "The Union government, in just 15 months, has launched various programme for skill development and education of minorities, including the Nai Manzil and Ustad Yojana."

The Ustad Yojana was started in May this year from Varanasi. While Nai Manzil aims at addressing the educational intervention of youths in the age group of 15 to 35, Ustad Yojana envisages boosting the skill of artisans, craftsmen and weavers who are already engaged in work.

Speaking on the occasion, Radha Mohan highlighted the financial and insurance scheme of the Modi government and said: "Financial schemes such as Jan Dhan Yojana, Mudra Bank and others are for the poor people to give them strength. As a large section of Muslim population fall in below poverty line (BPL), it is the minorities who will be greatly benefited through such schemes."

The training would be imparted to madarsa students in three courses data - entry operator, beautician and fashion designing, and sewing. In the first phase, 120 students would be given training and the course will be of four months. Also, after completion of the training programme, students would be provided jobs and even loans on subsidised rates for setting up business.