^{"The movement of Community colleges has reached 400 and in order for it to grow, we need to involve the Panchayati Rajs , the Government and the Industry on a priority basis. Let this ‘movement in the making’ grow, otherwise we shall be overwhelmed by unemployable youth in the next 3 years," said Dr Kiran Bedi, Founder General Secretary, Navjyoti India Foundation. She was speaking at a lecture on "Community Colleges- the Answer for Present and Future : The Experience of Navjyoti India Foundation" , organized by Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU).}

^{The special lecture was telecast live via Edu Sat.}

^{Speaking about community development work being done by Navjyoti India Foundation and its march towards becoming an IGNOU Community college , Dr Bedi remarked " We started as a ‘Galli’ school and have grown into a Community college. IGNOU has given us 4 Community Colleges and that too in a very short time frame. The entire process, including the paperwork for establishing the Navjyoti Community College was completed in just 3 days. June 17, 2010 is a red letter day for us, as this is the date on which Navjyoti Community college was institutionalized."}

^{Dr Bedi focused on several issues in her lecture, namely, where does India stand in terms of education and the role of Community colleges in the skilling of India, among others . Talking about her experience of "straying into education as a crime prevention method", she commented, "Navjyoti was born in 1986/87 and today has 10,000 beneficiaries, but I am pained and disturbed when I see the deprivation of education at the grassroots level. In this context, the Community college movement assumes a very important role in the skilling of more than half of India’s population. Every young person wants a job and this can only happen if they are skilled in a trade , which can only be possible through the Community colleges."}

^{Dr Bedi further added that India has very few Universities compared to the Developed world and only 3-4 percent of India’s population is skilled , leaving a vast chunk unemployable , with no skill sets. This shortage of skilled manpower has to be made employable by giving them skills- oriented and need based education, which can be done by Community colleges.}

^{Elaborating on what other countries are doing under the Community college scheme, Dr Bedi emphasized that countries like Australia, the US, Malaysia and even Phillipines are way ahead compared to India , in terms of the number of Community colleges and the courses offered.}

^{She reiterated the need for a concerted effort by the Ministry of Human Resource Development to spread awareness about this revolutionary scheme and remarked that she would be very happy to see a industry headed Community college, like the ‘Reliance Community College ‘ in the near future."The next step would be to launch a Community College in Law, or Research", she said.}

^{Calling Navjyoti’s experience of working in the education sector as a ‘Herculean task’, Dr Bedi elaborated on how parents shy away from sending their children to school if the education is not free. "Parents should be made to pay fees, according to their financial status , this would encourage interest in their children’s education", commented Dr Bedi.}

^{At the end of her lecture, Dr Kiran Bedi stated ,"Community colleges must take up adult literacy as mandate. We must make this a priority area in all IGNOU Community colleges. There is also a need to allow tax breaks for Corporates who support community colleges."}

^{Delivering his address, IGNOU Vice Chancellor, Professor VN Rajasekharan Pillai said," We have 442 Community colleges within 1 year of starting the community college scheme at IGNOU. Thousand applications are pending for establishing more Community colleges. Community colleges is a People’s Movement , where we let the community decide what it wants in terms of programmes of study and timing of classes. We are interested in establishing a national pool of teachers and trainers for teaching in Community colleges. We shall also be meeting all the nodal Ministries involved in the National Skills Mission to take their feedback about the scheme. Each Community college should have a community radio station too to spread awareness about this novel concept within the community."}

^{The lecture was attended by Dr Latha Pillai, Pro-Vice Chancellor, IGNOU, Dr CK Ghosh, nodal officer, Community College Unit, IGNOU, and functionaries of Navjyoti and students.}