NEW DELHI: Technology-enabled vocational training company SkillTrain on Tuesday said it expects to reach 2,500 people this year with ‘blended mobile app-offline centres’ strategy.

The company, which is supported by IT firm Mphasis and social enterprise incubator Villgro, offers video content through its app and practical training through partner centres to enable rural and urban youth become employable or self-employed.

“We believe that only a blend of technology in vocational training can help India achieve the dream of becoming a skilled nation,” SkillTrain founder and CEO B Ganesh told reporters here. He added that the Android mobile app offers courses in segments such as electronics, tailoring, plumbing, electrical repair and a host of other skill areas. “We are starting with Hindi and will add more languages. We also plan to add at least 10 new courses this year as we expand in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Maharashtra…We hope to train more than 2,500 students this year,” he said. While the video content and quizzes are free, the fee per practical session ranges between Rs 30 and Rs 100, making it one of the most affordable models currently available, he said. Estimates suggest that India needs to train around 300 million citizens by 2022, wherein existing capabilities will be able to tap only a fraction of this number. Villgro has been working with SkillTrain for nearly four years, providing seed funding and mentoring. Mphasis, through its CSR arm — Mphasis F1 Foundation — provided Rs 60 lakh and has been supporting Villgro to incubate SkillTrain from December 2015.