With a nationwide mission to transform skilled manpower into innovative entrepreneurs and thriving employers in future, the union food processing industries ministry launched extensive skills training program in 30 centers across 11 states under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.Union food processing industry Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal while commencing this nation-wide skilling campaign in the presence of union minister for state Sadhavi Niranjan Jyoti said that creating a pool of skilled manpower is necessary for India to emerge as a super power. The Minister called upon the Food Industry, particularly the Bakeries, to be an active partner in India's march towards being a global player in economic sphere by adopting innovative techniques. She batted for the need to use essential vitamins and minerals in processed foods so that they reach the top notch standards and eventually earn a reputation for themselves worldwide thereby helping in the making of 'Brand India' a force to reckon with in the world food industry.
Mrs Badal also asked trainees to become entrepreneurs and seek financial assistance from various government schemes like from Mudra bank and become employers in future. While thanking the Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi for his vision and initiative in skilling India she added that capsule on entrepreneurship has been added in all food processing course curriculum. It is pertinent to mention here that Food Industry Capacity and Skill Initiative (FICSI) was implementing this scheme in the food processing sector and duly assisted by union food processing industries ministry.Addressing on the occasion Sadhavi Niranjan Jyoti said that India being one of the largest producer of grains, fruits and vegetables, needs to create more processing facilities in these products and create employment for skilled labour. "There is also huge scope for skilling people to be self employed and become employment creators rather than being employment seekers", she added.Siraj Choudhry president FICSI also spoke on the occasion and lauded the credible role being played by central food processing industries ministry to initiate skill programs and in promoting processing industry.