New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) A technical education scheme that aims to empower school drop outs and informal sector workers was formally launched here Tuesday by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.“The scheme provides technical education by reaching out to the skill deprived at their doorsteps. It is a pioneering scheme aimed at upgrading the livelihood skills of workers in the informal sector, school dropouts and those outside the work stream,” said Dikshit at a function.

The scheme Technical Education Community Outreach Scheme (TECOS) aims to deliver innovative skill building training to the impoverished at low cost and to provide training in areas with high demand to enable successful trainees easily secure jobs or self-employment.

P.K. Tripathi, principal secretary to the chief minister, G. Narendra Kumar, secretary department of training and technical education, and principals of various Industrial Training Institutes were present on the occasion.

Dikshit said the demand for skilled employees is increasing with opening of new establishments in the capital and directed the authorities to organize a job fair for the benefit of trainees under TECOS.

“The department has also been instructed to apprise employers about on going skill development training under TECOS, which is expected to produce reliable and dependable skilled workers,” Dikshit added.

She exhorted NGOs to impart training to maximum number of students so that it helps in meeting the growing demand of vocational training.

The chief minister presented certificates to toppers of first batch training programme under TECOS.

She presented certificates to first, second and third position holders of eight different training programmes organised with NGOs under the supervision of ITIs/polytechnics.

The courses offered to the first batch of students were auto service, basic electrical training, basic sewing operator, computer fundamental MS operator, Internet, Desk Top Publishing operator, hand embroidery, hospitality assistant, make up artist and retail sale person.

In the first batch, 2,500 people were imparted training and another 2,500 have been enrolled in the second batch.