Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Sunday said his Government’s utmost preferences included the overall development of youth.
The youth is the future of nation and their empowerment should be ensured, said the Chief Minister, while speaking on the occasion of two days ‘Job Fair’ organised by Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam at Banuti, about 12 kms from Shimla.
Almost 2,000 youth were registered in the job fair.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister announced to start vocational degree in 12 colleges of the State. The starting of this degree would be a huge initiative to provide job oriented vocational education to the students of the State, said he.
He said a loan of Rs 640 crore was taken from Asian Development Bank. This step would revamp and upgrade training infrastructure State wide and provide qualitative vocational training at par with the requirements of the companies in present days, he said.
All the departments providing vocational training were roped in this job fair, said the Chief Minister.
He said the Government had established HPKVN to upgrade the skills of youth to make them able to get employment in the private companies and a budget provision of Rs 500 crore was made to make its functioning smooth throughout the state. During next five years, one lakh youth would be provided with training and a target of getting 80 per cent of these youth placed in the various companies was emphasised in the state, said he.
Virbhadra Singh said the State Government had implemented two schemes simultaneously to upgrade skills, employment and development of youth.
Under HP Kaushal Vikas Allowance Scheme and Unemployment Allowance, allowances were given which included Rs 1000-1500 per month to youth, he added.
Director of BoD of HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam, Vikramaditya Singh said that the objective of two days job fair is to empower maximum youth to get employment in private companies besides making the youth informed about the entrepreneurship and self-employment.
To fulfil the objective, around 10 departments were invited to the job fair. Around 18 private companies are taking part in the job fair to provide employment to the youth by finalising placement. The companies include IlFS Skill, lIC, Apollo Medical Skill, Sodexo Mass Infotech, Vardhman, TATA, AIA, Kahata Precision, Ram Dev Chandel, Big Chef Spices, Siesta Hospitality, Agri Skill Council, Dominos, Jubilant, Radisson, ARS International, HDFC, ICICI among others, he said.
He said more than 1200 youth were registered during the first day at the job fair and these companies had given placement to 200 youth.
Around 1,000 youth had completed training given by HPKVN and 800 youth were given placement by the private companies. Appointment letters would be given to these youth by the Chief Minister, he added.