While addressing Him Kaushal Utsav organized by the Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam here today on the occasion of World Youth Skill Day, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said that the endeavour of the state government was to ensure Skill upgradation of the youth of the state, so that they become ‘Job Providers’ instead of ‘Job Seekers’.Chief Minister said that rising unemployment among youth was one of the major problems facing economies and societies in today’s world, for developed and developing countries alike. He said that it calls for an integrated approach to development which recognises that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions.Jai Ram Thakur said that the role of technical and vocational education and training was vital in tackling this problem. He said that greater stress has to be laid on technical and vocational skills development, specifically regarding to provide affordable quality technical and vocational education and training. This can equip youth with the skills required to access the world of work, including skills for self-employment opportunities, he added.Chief Minister said that ‘Skilled India’ was the dream project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he has envisioned a ‘Developed India’ with ‘Skilled India’. He said that it was under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that an independent Kaushal Vikas and Entrepreneurship Ministry was established in 2014. This has ensured that more and more programmes for Skill upgradation were being implemented in the state, he added.Jai Ram Thakur said that with the changing world, the concept of education has also increased. He said that education today means Skilling youth to empower them to lead a better life, both economically as well as socially. He said that youth should not go after white-collar jobs in government sector, as there were vast opportunities available in private sector.He said that the state government was planning a Global Investors Meet during on 7th and 8th of November this year. He said that several big industrial houses have shown interest to invest in the state. He said that this would ensure vast employment opportunities to the youth of the state. He said that in our country only 5 per cent of the working population was formally trained as compared to 75 per cent in Germany, 80 per cent in Japan and 96 per cent in South Korea. He said that thus we require to skill our youth to meet the demands of industries.Chief Minister said that since about 90 percent of the population of the state live in rural areas, therefore greater stress needed to be laid on Skill upgradation of the youth.
Jai Ram Thakur also launched a Mobile based App to facilitate the youth of the state. He also released a mobilization booklet on the occasion. He felicitated the skilling partners and students on the occasion.Chief Minister also visited the stalls exhibiting products prepared by various agencies and envisaged keen interest in the products displayed. Industries and Technical Education Minister Bikram Singh said that the youth of the state were known for their hard work and sincere nature, thus industries were keen to employ them in their units. He said that the state government was committed to make youth of the state fully skilled so that they get adequate opportunities of employment and self employment. He also thanked the Chief Minister for launching several new schemes for skilling the youth. State Coordinator HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam Naveen Sharma said that the state government under the able leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has ensured empowerment of youth by providing them ample employment and self employment opportunities.Additional Chief Secretary Industries Manoj Kumar welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed various activities initiated by the state government for skilling the youth of the state. He said that in order to ensure empowerment of the youth it was vital to skill them.Director IT and MD Kaushal Vikas Nigam Rohan Chand Thakur said that the main objective of HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam was to empower the youth through their Skill upgradation. He said that the Nigam was also ensuring that the skilled youth get placement or start his or her own self employment ventures, for which all possible assistance was being provided to them. Social Sector Specialist ADB Fook Yen Chong, North Head Bird Group Maj. Daksh Nakra, CEO Focal Skill Development Pvt. Ltd. Praveen Bansal, Vice President HR Radisson Hotels Vijiya Dutta, HR Head Big Bazar Chandigarh Vijay Dingra and Vice President HR Microtek Pradeep Sarpal shared their experiences on the occasion. They also appreciated the efforts of the state government for skilling the youth of the state. Flexi MoU were signed with HP Kaushal Vikas Nigam and Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology, National Institute of Electronic and Information Technology. MoUs were also signed with six other companies for imparting training to the youth of the State. About 600 students from various schools participated in the event.Mayor Shimla Municipal Corporation Kusum Sedrate, Additional Chief Secretary cum Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Member UGC Nagesh Thakur, Director Higher Education Dr Amarjit Sharma were present on the occasion among others.