Patna: Shagufta Khatoon and Nagma Haque, both in their early 20s and school dropouts from poor Muslim families, see a new ray of hope in 'Hunar' (skill), an innovative scheme for providing vocational training to Muslim girls in Bihar.

The scheme was launched in the state Wednesday. In the first phase about 12,000 Muslim girl students will get vocational training, while the second phase will see over 50,000 students benefiting from it.

"We are happy that we will be provided free skill training to become self-dependent. I had not completed school education due to poverty, now at least I will learn some skill to earn a livelihood," said Shagufta with her head covered by a black coloured cloth.

Shagufta, who hails from a village in Nalanda, which is the home district of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said it will help Muslim girls from poor families.

Nagma said it was a major step towards empowerment of Muslim girls. "It was a right step to provide skills training to us. Many of us who were not educated due to one or other reason will get an opportunity to earn a livelihood with self respect," said Nagma, a native of a village in neighbouring Jehanabad district.

Anjum Bano, another Muslim girl, a resident of Patna, said that only time will tell whether the scheme reaches the beneficiaries or not. "I wish and pray for the success of the scheme as it promises to bring happiness in the life of thousands of poor Muslim girls," she said.