New Delhi: The Ministry of Rural Development is planning to initiate an ambitious project to enhance the skills and subsequently generate placement opportunities for unskilled youth who are below poverty line (BPL).

The endeavor by the ministry would be undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Minority Affairs.

"The idea behind the proposed project is to reach out to the BPL population amongst the minorities in the rural areas, especially those who have not received any formal education and subsequently are not able to avail the benefits of training programmes of the Ministry of Rural Development that are relevant to the youth," and official press release said on Tuesday.

The initiative is expected to involve them in the process of national building.

A pilot project with the focus on minority concentrated districts is likely to be undertaken in the next financial year.

The move follows a discussion between the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Dr. C.P. Joshi and Minister of Minority Affairs Salman Khurshid at Krishi Bhawan here today.

Dr. Joshi has said that the program will provide impetus to provide gainful employment to the underprivileged. The Ministry of Minority Affairs has evinced keen interest in the proposal.

Salman Khurshid has said that his department welcomes the initiative and would be extending its support to the initiative.

According to the press release, the initiative is likely to be undertaken in select few districts across the country targeting the BPL population among the minorities in the rural areas. Under the proposal it has been envisaged to use the curriculum and methodology of the National Open schools using multi-media technique.

The school drop outs and those who have not attained formal education would be asked to undertake the curriculum of standard 8th and or 10th as prescribed by National Open School for a period of ten months.

It will be followed by skills development training program for two months which may lead to an eventual placement opportunities for them.