Hyderabad: Tech services giant TCS has joined hands with the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) to kick off a TCS iON Placement Success Programme(PSP) in Telangana with an eye on empowering rural youth through targeted upskilling.The collaboration between TCS and JNTU, Manthani aims to equip final-year students and fresh graduates with the skills needed for entry-level IT positions.As part of the pilot for the programme, 100 students will be enrolled to undergo a 20-week immersive training programme designed to bridge the gap between academia and industry.The curriculum will focus on building both core technical competencies and essential soft skills to prepare candidates for real job roles in the IT sector. The programme will also offer placement support through TCS iON’s recruitment platform, connecting eligible graduates with job opportunities.On the occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed by JNTU Hyderabad vice chancellor Prof T KishanKumar Reddy and TCS iON business head for skill education Smriti Mulye in the presence of the IT & industries minister Duddila Sridhar Babu.”The recent drop in employability among Indian youth from 44.3% in 2023 to 42.6% in 2024, highlights a serious problem – less than half the graduates are prepared for the demands of the job market, which affects students, educational institutions, industries, and the government,” said Sridhar Babu.”In Manthani, we are taking action to change this. With this programme we are not just educating our youth, we are making them job-ready. The programme will bring the skills and training needed for real jobs to rural Telangana, bridging the gap between rural areas and industries,” he added.