Keeping its poll promises of providing tablets to students, unemployment allowance, enhancing pension, the Punjab Government on Wednesday decided to perfect the skills of the State’s youth.
The Finance Minister, presenting the Budget proposals for 2014-15, maintained that the State Government’s main focus for the current year would be on skill development, besides strengthening and upgradation of existing skill training infrastructure. For the purpose, the state government will partner with reputed private training partners towards meeting the skill development requirements of the State.
As a first step towards this, the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training will be renamed as the ‘Department of Technical Education and Skill Development’ and the Board of Technical Education and Industrial Training would be renamed as the ‘Board of Technical Education and Skill Development.
“The names would be changed to ensure necessary focus and co-ordination of various Skill Development schemes and initiatives in the State,” said Dhindsa. The Mission will be single point within the Government to formulate and steer various skill development schemes. The Mission will bring necessary synergy, oversight and effective co-ordination in the implementation of the skill development schemes across the departments.
He said: “Under this, the schemes have been merged, and have made it a mission that would be a three-level scheme so that it can be monitored effectively.” “It is envisaged to revamp and empower the State Skill Development Mission under the chairmanship of Chief Minister with three tiers at State, District and Block level,” read the Budget speech.
Dhindsa said that under this, skills of three lakh youth would be developed and Rs 500 crore has been allocated for that. “With this, we are focusing on making them workable developing their skills, and helping in drug de-addiction,” he added. The state government will also partner with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) in the implementation of various schemes and initiatives for skill development in the State.
In addition, the state government in partnership with the leading corporate houses, has already set up Construction Development Centre (l&T), Driving and Automotive Skill Centre (Tata Motors) at Muktsar and Training Centre in Retail Marketing (Bharti-Wall Mart ltd.) in Amritsar. The State Government has also set up a Foreign Employment and Information and Training Bureau for guidance and placement of candidates in foreign countries, which would impart training to 10,000 aspiring candidates during Twelfth Plan.
Dhindsa said that the State Government has further signed MOU with Tata Sons towards improving and upgrading of six ITIs. Besides, the State Government proposed to set up a Multi Skill Development Centre in partnership with private sector at ludhiana with a training capacity of 10,000 candidates per annum. Such Centre will be set up in accordance with the global standards and will be a training-cum-production centre.