Environmental conservation has become a challenge in Uttarakhand which needs to be considered seriously, said the Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi while speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Uttarakhand annual session on partnerships for skill development. Qureshi also presented the CII Uttarakhand Green Award to Sachidanand Bharti of Dudhatoli lok Vikas Sansthan on the occasion.
Qureshi said that blood, toil and tears are needed to save the environment and the ecology of India.
Receiving the award on behalf of DlVS Bharti emphasised on the need for people’s participation in addressing environmental issues. The DlVS Ufrainkhal was awarded for undertaking afforestation in 150 villages and digging 20,000 small pits to store rainwater in Dudhatoli area of Pauri.
Chairing the theme session on partnerships for skill development, State Planning Commission special advisor IK Pande emphasised on the importance of quality of education. Skilled manpower will lead to better worker productivity but the wage component of the value addition should also increase accordingly, he added.
Stating that the Uttarakhand Government welcomes public private partnership in skill development, principal secretary, Industrial Development, Rakesh Sharma highlighted the State’s initiatives and plans for strengthening skill infrastructure.
CII Northern region chairman MM Singh stressed that skill development is seen globally as an instrument to improve the quality and skill levels of labour force. Stating that skill development agenda is a key priority at CII, he said that the confederation had adopted more than 100 ITI’s in north region.
Counsellor, Social and labour Affairs, Vocational Education and Training, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Ulrich Meinecke shared the German model of vocational education; Himalaya Aajivika Sudhar Pariyojna project director Jyotsana Sitling shared experiences of the project while National Skill Development Corporation programme development principal Ranjan Choudhury spoke on NSDC’s initiatives in India and Uttarakhand to promote private sector participation in skill development.
New roles for Sandeep Jain, Manu Kochhar
Sandeep Jain and Manu Kochhar were elected the chairman and vice chairman respectively of the CII Uttarakhand State Council for 2013-14 at the annual session on Tuesday. Jain is the founder director of Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals limited and also the chairman of Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Uttarakhand.
Kochhar is the joint managing director of Unique Hotels and Restaurants Pvt ltd (Hotel Madhuban) and director of the Madhuban Academy of Hotel Administration and Research.