PUNJAB TO SET UP SKILL DEVELOPMENT CENTRES AT VILLAGE LEVEL

By 1 2 1   News Reporter

Mohali 21^st October: ------ The Punjab government has chalked out an ambitious plan to set up skill development centers at village level to impart training to less educated youngsters to make them employable in the adjoining industries thereby creating more job opportunities in the state. This was stated by Punjab Transport, Employment generation & Training Minister Ajit Singh Kohar today after inaugurating a Apparel Training & Design Smart Center Government Polytechnic.

Ajit Singh Kohar said that the State was committed to promote quality technical education and special emphasis was on vocational training so that our youngsters could get employment in local industries or start their own ventures. He expressed confidence that newly set up ATDC center would play a significant role in imparting apparel making and smart designing training to youngsters. He pointed out that these were the emerging industries in the country with huge potential. He said that the State government would tie up with such industries to help youngsters in getting employment. Expressing concern over rapidly decreasing work culture, Ajit Singh Kohar said that to ensure quality living and overall development of the state, it becomes imperative for every member of family to work. Ajit Singh Kohar said that Punjab industry was all set to get immense benefit of State's power surplus status slated at the end of the year as power was the backbone of industrial development in any region. He said that the Punjab would be the first power surplus state in country as three Thermal plants having joint generation capacity of 3920 MW would start power generation in the current year. He said that repair of link roads would be completed in next four months at the cost of Rs. 1700 crore. Listing out the various development schemes, Ajit Singh Kohar informed that more than 30 lac families of the state would get wheat at the rate of Rs. 1 kg in next few months.

Speaking on the occasion, KJS Cheema, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister and Secretary, Employment Generation & Training said that the state government was making concerted efforts to provide trained manpower to upcoming industry and the setting up of skill development centers was a part of its endeavor. He said that this was fourth such center. He informed that the state government has provided funds for the machinery and number of such more centers would be opened in coming days. ATDC Vice Chairman Hari Kapur informed that till date 180 centers have already been set up in the country and the target was to open 250 centers. He thanked the State government for extending full cooperation and support in setting up of these centers.