Text Size: A- A+

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government is planning to implement a skill-based training programme for pandits and pujaris (Hindu priests) in India. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is set to implement this programme, keeping in mind that pandits are in demand not just in India but in Hindu communities across the globe.

A ministry official told ThePrint that the objective is to “sustain the Vedic culture and heritage of our country”, and that it is “imperative” that the government not only preserves the knowledge, but imparts it in the right way.

The official added that by skilling youth in this segment, the government will not only create more employment opportunities, but also formalise this unorganised sector.

Also read: Skill India ministry needs to find itself 1 office before it can help Indians find jobs

The curriculum

The ministry is planning to design a curriculum that will standardise the mantras and rituals performed in pujas and yagnas. This format-based training course will be designed to meet the standards of the National Skills Qualification Framework, a competency-based framework that organises all qualifications according to levels of knowledge, skill and aptitude. These levels, graded from one to 10, are defined in terms of learning outcomes which learners must possess, regardless of whether they are obtained through formal, non-formal or informal learning.

To ensure that everyone has access to this training programme, an important prerequisite will be the knowledge of Sanskrit and a keen interest in the field.

Although the locations for the skill centres have not been finalised yet, the first thought is to set them up in centres of Hindu culture like Mathura and Varanasi.

Rajaram Shukla, vice-chancellor of Varanasi’s Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, who came up with this idea and proposed it to the ministry, said it is important that training be imparted in tandem with the ‘shastriya paddhati’ (the system espoused by ancient texts).

Shukla also said the knowledge of correct vaastu shastra (the traditional Indian architectural system) and jyotish vidya (astrology) is essential for pandits, through which they can earn something like Rs 50,000 per month.

Also read: Automation & AI won’t make low-skilled jobs disappear

Subscribe to our channels on YouTube & Telegram

Why news media is in crisis & How you can fix it You are reading this because you value good, intelligent and objective journalism. We thank you for your time and your trust. You also know that the news media is facing an unprecedented crisis. It is likely that you are also hearing of the brutal layoffs and pay-cuts hitting the industry. There are many reasons why the media’s economics is broken. But a big one is that good people are not yet paying enough for good journalism. We have a newsroom filled with talented young reporters. We also have the country’s most robust editing and fact-checking team, finest news photographers and video professionals. We are building India’s most ambitious and energetic news platform. And have just turned three. At ThePrint, we invest in quality journalists. We pay them fairly. As you may have noticed, we do not flinch from spending whatever it takes to make sure our reporters reach where the story is. This comes with a sizable cost. For us to continue bringing quality journalism, we need readers like you to pay for it. If you think we deserve your support, do join us in this endeavour to strengthen fair, free, courageous and questioning journalism. Please click on the link below. Your support will define ThePrint’s future. Support Our Journalism

Show Full Article