Ludhiana: The Punjab government has urged the local industrialists to play a “pro-active role” in the promotion of multi-skill development centres, one of which is coming up here and will be operational by 2015. A meeting over this project was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal here today and attended by members of the society constituted for running this centre.
This society is headed by industrialists Pankaj Munjal of Hero Cycles, Sandeep Minni Riat, S P Oswal, Upkar Singh, SC Ralhan, Avtar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana. During the meeting, Badal impressed upon the local industrialists to play a pro-active role in the promotion of skill training centres across the state with an objective to cater to local needs of industry by providing skilled manpower.
Assuring full support and cooperation to corporates for executing and managing this ambitious project, Badal said the cost of restructuring and renovating existing infrastructure at this facility would be borne by the state government and the committee comprising eminent industrialists would manage the affairs of this upcoming multi skill centre.
The Chief Minister said once the project took off, running expenses for managing the day-to-day affairs would be equally shared by the state government and corporation. Pankaj Munjal from Hero Cycles said the Centre would be ready by March 2015.
The Chief Minister said this multi skill centre would impart training to over 2,000 unemployed youth, including girls, particularly to encompass the major section of school and college dropouts who left studies midway due to economic hardships.
He also mentioned that every year as many as 15 courses in bicycle/cycle parts, textile, apparel and garments, auto components, hand tools and light engineering industry besides in service sector including hospitality, retail, healthcare and others would be taken up in this multi skill centre. Munjal further said the total cost of the project would be around Rs 14.8 crore, out of which Rs 7.80 crore would be spent on the renovation of the building, Rs 5 crore on machines and equipment, Rs 2 crore on working capital.
Munjal further said several top industrialists of the country have agreed to join them for the smooth operations of state-of-the art “Multi Skill Development Centre” at Ludhiana. He said the courses would be of three-month duration, and more than 2,000 students would be imparted training every year.
While speaking to mediapersons after the first review meeting, the Chief Minister said that three para medical skill centres would be soon opened in Faridkot, Amritsar and Patiala to give boost to medical skill training in the state, adding that even the upcoming rehabilitation centres for drug addicts would also focus on providing skill training to youth for gainful self employment.
Likewise, Badal also said skill centres were also being opened in jails across the state to impart skill training to the inmates.
