Noney district has invited online applications for skill development training under ESDP 2025-26, covering more than 2,400 beneficiaries from minority, OBC and SC communities.
Noney, June 19: The Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Noney, has invited online applications for various skill development training programmes under the Economic and Skill Development Programme (ESDP) for the year 2025-26, targeting minority, Other Backward Classes (OBC), Scheduled Caste (SC) communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the district.
Separate notices issued by Deputy Commissioner Vidyamari Sridhar stated that the training programmes are being implemented through the Directorate of Minority Affairs and the Directorate for Welfare of OBC and SC, Government of Manipur.
The initiative aims to provide vocational skills and livelihood opportunities to eligible beneficiaries through short-term training courses in traditional crafts, agriculture-related activities and allied sectors.
According to the notices, a total of 2,432 beneficiaries are proposed to be covered under the programme across different categories.
For minority communities, the Directorate of Minority Affairs has earmarked 1,069 training seats under five trades. The beneficiaries will be equally divided between the general minority population and minority IDPs.
The programme includes:
Bamboo Work Artisan – 140 beneficiaries
Kauna Craft (Traditional Basket Maker) – 180 beneficiaries
Loin Loom Weaver – 163 beneficiaries
Fishery (Cold-Water Aquaculture Farmer) – 240 beneficiaries
Mushroom Cultivation – 346 beneficiaries
Of the total minority beneficiaries, 534 seats have been allocated to the general minority population, while 535 seats have been reserved for minority IDPs.
For OBC and SC communities, the Directorate for Welfare of OBC and SC has earmarked a combined 1,363 training seats.
The OBC category accounts for 818 beneficiaries, while 545 beneficiaries have been allocated under the SC category.
The distribution under the OBC category is as follows:
Bamboo Work Artisan – 106 beneficiaries
Kauna Craft (Traditional Basket Maker) – 136 beneficiaries
Loin Loom Weaver – 124 beneficiaries
Fishery (Cold-Water Aquaculture Farmer) – 184 beneficiaries
Mushroom Cultivation – 268 beneficiaries
Within the OBC allocation, 409 seats are reserved for the general population and 409 for OBC IDPs.
Similarly, the SC category includes:
Bamboo Work Artisan – 71 beneficiaries
Kauna Craft (Traditional Basket Maker) – 90 beneficiaries
Loin Loom Weaver – 83 beneficiaries
Fishery (Cold-Water Aquaculture Farmer) – 123 beneficiaries
Mushroom Cultivation – 178 beneficiaries
Out of the SC allocation, 273 seats have been earmarked for the general SC population, while 272 seats are reserved for SC IDPs.
The training courses have been divided into two formats.
Bamboo Work Artisan, Kauna Craft and Loin Loom Weaver will be conducted as non-residential programmes lasting 50 days.
Fishery (Cold-Water Aquaculture Farmer) and Mushroom Cultivation will be organised as non-residential programmes of 15 days duration.
The courses are designed to promote traditional skills as well as income-generating activities that can support self-employment and livelihood enhancement.
The notices specify several eligibility criteria for applicants.
Candidates must be above 18 years of age. Half of the available seats have been reserved for internally displaced persons belonging to the respective communities, while the remaining 50 per cent are meant for the general population.
Preference will be given to applicants from families with an annual income not exceeding Rs 1 lakh.
Family members of government employees are not eligible to apply under the scheme.
Applicants are permitted to apply for only one trade, and only one beneficiary from a family can avail the programme. Individuals who have already been selected under the same programme in previous years are also not eligible.
The Deputy Commissioner's office has clarified that applications will be accepted only through the official portal of the Directorate of Minority Affairs.
Interested candidates must submit their applications online through www.manipurminority.gov.in. No offline application forms will be issued or accepted.
The last date for submission of applications has been fixed as August 8, 2026.
Officials said interested persons may contact the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Noney, for further information and coordination regarding the application process.
