A six months long ‘Skill Training cum Entrepreneurship Development (STED) programme’ for rural scheduled caste youth commenced on 2nd September under the SCSP programme of the KVK. Eight rural youth selected based on a selection process would undergo the programme up to 28th February, 25. During the period they would learn the skills for plant propagation and nursery techniques, vegetable seed production and grafting of vegetable seedlings, organic manure and bio-agent production, mushroom and spawn production, apiculture and meliponiculture, livestock and poultry management, agro-processing and value addition, operation of farm machineries/equipments and plant protection techniques. On completion of the programme, they are expected to establish their own enterprises employing other rural population and earning a decent income. They also have to take leadership and coordinating role in the implementation of various development programmes implemented by the state and central Govts in the agricultural and allied sectors for the upliftment of SC/ST population at the panchayath level.