On Friday, the MNS announced the launch of its Navnirman Academy of Retail Industries (NARI) that would be open for not only Marathi-speaking youth but anybody who qualifies as a “local”. Asked whether this would include North Indians as well, Sunil Basakhetre who heads the MNS employment department said: “If the person has been staying here for 15 years then he is welcome to join the training centre.”

MNS chief Raj Thackeray will formally inaugurate the training centre at Dadar on May 1. A press statement by the party reads: “According to the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, over the next two years the retail sector in India will grow at an enormous rate. After farming, retail is set to become the highest employment provider. Over the next two years, this sector is expected to provide 20 lakh jobs.”

The centre will train unemployed local youth in conversational skills and use of credit cards, as also for jobs such as cashier and salespersonnel. “Such jobs require persons who have passed their class 10th or 12th. We will impart the necessary skills to make them capable of working in malls,” Basakhetre said. He added that gradually more centres would be set up in close proximity to upcoming malls, not only in Mumbai but also all over the state. Each batch of students will undergo a 40-day training, he said.

“We have started talks with big retail companies such as Pantaloons, Reliance and Aditya Birla Group, and few of them are keen to employ candidates trained us,” said Basakhetre.