Mumbai: BMC pulls down unlisted skill centre’s signboard in Govandi

Following mid-day's January 5 report about an unregistered skill centre that came up inside a library meant for underprivileged students in Govandi, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) removed the centre's signboard from the premises. According to a civic official from the M East ward, the place was given to Niyaz Minority Welfare Educational Trust, run by MLA Abu Azmi, and the operation of the Houston Testing and Skill Upgradation Academy is a violation.

Officials said that the centre's bogus claim of being registered with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and using its logo is also a violation. "They do not seem to be registered with the NSDC, but some other foreign organisation. Hence, we decided to remove their board," said Amit Karandikar, from M East ward's garden department.

BMC's letter
The civic body had, in a December 27, 2023 letter, given the head of Niyaz Minority Welfare Educational Trust 24 hours to provide relevant proof of affiliation to the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

The letter mentions that on Azmi's request to the M East ward, the Deputy Commissioner (Zone-07) had given permission to set up the skill development training centre within the designated library space in accordance with the then policy. "The authorised period for this permission was from 4/4/2015 to 11/03/2024," the BMC's letter reads.

"However, during a joint site inspection conducted by the assistant engineer (conservation) and the gardens department, it was noted that the location originally allocated to Niyaz Minority Welfare Educational Trust had been reassigned to a new organisation named Houston Testing and Skill Upgradation Academy. Numerous complaints from local residents have been received regarding the operation of this skill centre," the letter reads.

"To address this issue, it is imperative to confirm whether Houston Testing and Skill Upgradation Academy Centre is registered with the NSDC or Maharashtra Skill Development Society. Please provide information on this matter, and if registered, submit the relevant documents to this office within 24 hours. Failure to comply may result in appropriate action being taken in accordance with BMC rules," the letter reads.

‘Looks like a racket'
"After the 24-hour window to submit proof elapsed, no action was taken. After mid-day's report, we heard that a meeting was held in the M East ward office and the board was removed on Tuesday. The skill centre is of no use to anybody in Govandi. How can the Niyaz Minority Welfare Educational Trust give it to a third party? This appears to be a money making racket to us," said Faiyaz Alam Shaikh, Govandi resident and founder-president of NGO New Sangam Welfare Society.

‘No demolition'
Responding to Shaikh's claims, Karandikar told mid-day, "As decided, the board was removed. However, demolition action cannot be taken against the centre for now. The centre's management has moved the city civil court and a hearing is scheduled for January 29. Until then the court has provided protection from demolition to the centre. It is true that the permission to set up the skill centre was given to Niyaz Minority Welfare Educational Trust. We are yet to ascertain how a third party set up a skill centre here."

Last week, in response to multiple complaints by Govandi residents, the NSDC said that the skill development centre, accused of encroaching upon a section of the library, is neither registered with them nor a partner organisation. However, the centre openly uses the NSDC logo on its banner. In response to an RTI query by the Govandi Citizens Welfare Forum, the Maharashtra State Skill Development Society also clarified on October 30, 2023, that the trust is not registered under any schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.