Port Blair, July 30: As a new initiative under Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP), 19 tribal youths from different parts of Nicobar region will undergo free coaching for the prestigious Civil services examination.  The Islands Chief Secretary, Anand Prakash has inaugurated the Orientation programme for them at ITI, Dolluguanj today, as a prelude to the free coaching to be conducted at the Manida Neayam Civil Services Training Institute at Chennai.

Inaugurating the programme, he expressed his happiness over the maiden attempt made under ITDP to impart free coaching to the Nicobarese for the Civil services exams.  He exhorted the selected candidates to take the training seriously and work hard to achieve their goal.  He also assured that the administration would extend all the required assistance to them to undergo training at the mainland.

The Secretary for Tribal welfare, Theva Neethi Das informed that the Free coaching to the Nicobarese would be conducted jointly with the reputed training institute, Manida Neyam at Chennai under ITDP and hoped that it would develop the skills and talents of the Nicobarese students to crack the civil services examinations.

Briefing on the coaching programme, the Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar District, P Jawahar informed that 19 Nicobarese youths from different tribal islands including Car Nicobar, Theresa and Nancowrie have been selected for the orientation programme of 15 days duration conducted by the faculty from the Manida Neyam, Chennai.   He also revealed that the selected trainees will be given the stipend of Rs. 5000 per month to meet the expenses during their coaching programme at Chennai.

According to the Director of Manida Neyam Civil Services Training Institute,Karthigeyan,  170 candidates trained by the institute  cracked the civil services examinations and joined the coveted civil services during the last five years.