Many government and non government institutes have started rural development programme that can benefit the rural people in the first hand. These institutes mainly focus the education sector and try to build or bridge the gap of illiteracy the rural segment face.

Similarly, Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) established Centre for Knowledge Acquisition and Upgradation of Skilled Human Abilities and Livelihood (KAUSHAL) to take vocational education to new levels by offering B. Vocational Programme degree courses with funds sanctioned by University Grants Commission here.

The GRI has enrolled students for two UGC-funded vocational courses – B.Voc., Footwear Designing and Accessories, and B.Voc. Farm Machinery and Equipment Operations. The UGC sanctioned Rs. 4.15 crore for these courses and released Rs. 2.5 crore in the first phase. Over 60 students were admitted to these courses in the first batch, according to GRI Vice-Chancellor S. Natarajan.

The GRI had also proposed vocational degree programmes in renewable energy, health and beauty, wellness, apparel and fashion photography, family care services, rural industries, garment technology, multimedia production technology, food processing, hospitality management and food testing and quality evaluation, he noted.

The courses would have a credit-based semester system, provide credits for practical work, apprenticeship, on-the-job training and project work. The courses would have general education and skill components comprising communication, soft skills, critical thinking and problem solving. These programmes would focus not only on skills but also on development of entrepreneurship, he added.