Chandigarh: Punjab is using skill development and vocational training as part of its efforts to help children in conflict with law build confidence, gain practical skills and prepare for a more self-reliant future.
Under the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development, 48 children staying at the Special Home and Observation Home in Hoshiarpur have successfully completed job-oriented skill development courses. The initiative is being implemented under the leadership of Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur.
The programme focuses on giving children more than institutional care by providing them with skills that can support their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.
48 Children Complete Job-Oriented Courses
The 48 children at the Hoshiarpur homes completed two different vocational courses based on their training needs.
Among them, 25 children from the Special Home completed the Hair Dresser & Stylist course, while 23 children from the Observation Home completed the Multi Skill Technician course.
All 48 children recorded 100 per cent participation during their training. Their assessment and certification processes have also been completed successfully.
The courses are designed to provide practical knowledge that children can potentially use to pursue employment or other livelihood opportunities after completing their stay under the Juvenile Justice system.
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Skill Training Extended to 187 Children
The Hoshiarpur achievement is part of a wider skill development initiative being implemented across Punjab.
According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, vocational and skill development courses have been started for 187 children residing in Observation Homes and Special Homes across the state.
The department is selecting courses by considering factors such as the children’s interests, capabilities and future employment prospects. This approach aims to make training more relevant to individual abilities instead of providing a one-size-fits-all programme.
The initiative is being carried out by the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development in collaboration with the Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM).
Focus Shifts From Certificates to Practical Skills
The Punjab government says the objective of the programme goes beyond issuing training certificates.
The vocational courses are intended to equip children with practical skills that can help them become more confident and independent. Training can also give them an opportunity to develop an employable skill before they transition back into society.
The department is working to facilitate employment and placement opportunities for children who successfully complete the courses. Such opportunities will be considered according to their individual skills and abilities.
This employment-oriented approach links vocational education with rehabilitation, giving participating children a potential pathway towards livelihood opportunities.
Building Confidence Through Vocational Training
Children covered under the Juvenile Justice system often require support that extends beyond care and protection. The department has highlighted the importance of providing them with guidance, education, skills and opportunities to help them realise their potential.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said skill development can play an important role in building confidence and helping children make a fresh start in life.
The completion of the Hoshiarpur courses therefore represents more than a training milestone. For the children involved, learning a practical skill can provide a foundation for greater independence and help them prepare for life after institutional care.
Courses Linked to Future Employment
The vocational training programme is being structured around the future prospects of participating children.
The courses currently being offered include practical areas such as:
- Hair Dresser & Stylist, completed by 25 children at the Special Home in Hoshiarpur.
- Multi Skill Technician, completed by 23 children at the Observation Home in Hoshiarpur.
By connecting training choices with interests, capabilities and employment prospects, the department aims to improve the relevance of vocational education for children covered by the programme.
The next stage will also involve efforts to connect trained children with suitable employment and placement opportunities.
Supporting Reintegration Into Society
The initiative places skill development within the broader process of rehabilitation and social reintegration.
For children living in Observation Homes and Special Homes, access to practical training can help them develop abilities that remain useful beyond the institutional setting. Employment-oriented skills can also support their transition towards greater financial independence.
The collaboration between the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department and PSDM brings the state’s existing skill development ecosystem into the Juvenile Justice framework.
This allows children covered by the programme to access structured vocational training while receiving care and protection under the Juvenile Justice system.
Punjab’s Broader Rehabilitation Approach
The Punjab government has said it wants to ensure that children receive equal opportunities to move forward with dignity and confidence.
The skill development initiative reflects an approach in which rehabilitation is connected with education, vocational learning and livelihood opportunities. With training now covering 187 children across Observation Homes and Special Homes, the programme is being positioned as a wider state-level effort rather than a standalone activity in Hoshiarpur.
The successful completion of courses by 48 children provides an early outcome of this approach. As training expands and placement efforts continue, the focus will remain on helping children develop practical skills and prepare for independent lives.
For children in conflict with law, such opportunities can form an important part of the journey from institutional care towards education, employment and social reintegration. Punjab’s vocational training initiative seeks to make that transition more structured by combining protection with skills, confidence and opportunities for a dignified future.
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