Train in India, high commissioner urges Jamaicans
LUCEA, Hanover — With 50 scholarships still up for grabs, High Commissioner of India to Jamaica Masakui Rungsung is urging Jamaicans to take full advantage of tertiary training opportunities on offer from his country.
The scholarships are funded by the Indian Government and made available through their ITEC platform, a flagship programme that extends to friends of India such as Jamaica. The programme offers training in professional fields for persons in the public and private sectors as well as university students.
The short-term courses, which are available in India and online and run from three weeks to three months, are fully sponsored, including free tuition, travel, accommodation and a stipend.
Rungsung said the scholarships are underutilised.
“One reason being the COVID pandemic. The potential candidates cannot travel to India because of travel restrictions but now it opens up at least an opportunity. So, wherever I go, I let the local dignitaries know about the existence of these programmes, which are for both India and the friendly countries to benefit from,” he told the Jamaica Observer following a courtesy call made to the Hanover Municipal Corporation last Friday.
Rungsung, who has been assigned to Jamaica two years ago, has made several visits across the country, paying tribute to the Indian community, especially those over the age of 80.
“I also, at the same time, meet with local dignitaries, members of parliaments, ministers and extend onto the custodes and the mayors where I thought I should interact with them and then let them know about the kinds of facilities India is offering to various friendly countries including Jamaica,” he said.
Deputy Mayor of Lucea Councillor Andria Dehaney Grant (People’s National Party, Sandy Bay Division) has given a commitment to spread the word about the opportunities available from India.
“The Hanover Municipal Corporation, having heard this, we are taking on the task to ensure that we promote it to ensure that we get persons within the various divisions to participate, to apply because these opportunities are free of cost to us. And so our people have to ensure that they build capacity, ensure that they are trained and ensure that they get certification,” she said.
Applicants may pursue undergraduate or postgraduate degrees and doctoral research in engineering, IT, accounts, agricultural science, commerce, humanities, management, mass communication, Indian classical music & dance, Indian languages, and more. They have until April 23 to apply online at www.a2ascholarships.iccr.gov.in.
India is also providing medical support for Jamaicans at home. A health fair has been scheduled for Hanover in May, an opportunity for residents to get check-ups and a month’s worth of medication for those in need. Since January, the High Commission has undertaken 25 such fairs across the country.
The HMC is now trying to identify a location big enough to hold a large crowd so that as many people as possible can benefit. According to Dehaney Grant, the Indian High Commission hopes at least 300 people will attend.
“They want much more than that to come out so that persons can ensure that they are part of this because people out there need assistance and need health care. And so, if they come out, they can get their ECG done, get their cholesterol tests, get medication and support,” explained Grant.
This focus on education and health care are part of Rungsung’s efforts to optimise his time in Jamaica. His tenure comes to an end in one year. He believes the Hanover visit was time well spent. He described talks with the HMC’s officers and the parish’s Medical Officer of Health Dr Kaushal Singh as “a very fulfilling experience for me and one of the best meetings I have had”.