Pune: Famous Marathi Actor Makarand Anaspure will now be the brand ambassador for the “Unique Learn and Earn Scheme” . The scheme is the outcome of an institute-industry partnership model involving the Nashik-based Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU), the city-based Yashaswi Institute of Technology (YIT) and Tata Autocomp Systems Limited.The scheme has been approved by the Maharashtra government as part of it’s overall effort towards contributing to the Prime Minister’s ambitious national skill development mission that has targeted raising a mammoth 50 crore technically skilled manpower by 2022. The learn and earn scheme, enables class X and XII drop-outs pursue engineering diploma studies while simultaneously undertaking a four-year on-job practical training .. The scheme was formally launched in Pune by the state’s higher and technical education minister, Rajesh Tope in August 2010

Makarand Anasapure said that many students from rural areas cannot afford college fees . I am happy to be able to endorse this unique scheme which gives an opportunity to poor students who can now get access to technical education through this scheme .I would try and take this scheme to as many students possible .

Vishwesh Kulkarni, president, Yashaswi Institute of Technology (YIT), The scheme provides access to students seeking technical education but who cannot afford it. The company sponsoring the student pays the fees, a monthly stipend and also for the uniform, shoes, insurance cover, etc. The four-year diploma in mechanical engineering will involve eight hours of work at the factory and two hours of classroom work, which will be conducted at the government-owned engineering colleges and polytechnics. The course, is a mix of classroom teaching and shopfloor work. This is an ideal way for honing technical skills . In the first year itself we have received an enthusiastic response. About four thousand students are currently pursuing the program in Pune at our Chinchwad Campus .