The Punjab Government would make it mandatory for engineering colleges in the state to establish vocational skill development training centers in their respective institutions.In a bid to evolve an effective mechanism for establishing world class skill development training centers to impart short term vocational training to un-skilled and unemployed youth of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal asked all the engineering colleges in the state to establish at least one such centre in their respective institute to impart quality training to un-educated, drop-outs and unemployed youth especially with rural background. Taking a decision to this effect today in a high level meeting on 'Vocational Training and Skill development- Vision Punjab', with Industrial tycoons, eminent educationists and senior officers of the state here at Punjab Bhawan, Badal announced that in future no new engineering college would be granted any permission with out its commitment to establish such skill development training centre. The institutions would ensure the employability of these trained skilled workers through tie-up with the industries, added Badal. Expressing concern over the minimum attention paid on the human resources development in the past at the national level the Chief Minister asked the Vice Chancellors of PAU, GADVASU and Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences to prepare an active action plan to introduce new need-based courses in different disciplines to provide short term vocational training, not only to make these un-employed youth employable but also have a feel of pride. Emphasizing the need to make rural youth aware about all these courses and training programs, Badal asked the universities to initiate a vigorous awareness campaign simultaneously to make maximum numbers of unemployed youth aware and avail benefit. The Chief Minister also approved the proposal mooted by CII for establishing skill training 'Gurkuls' in few industrial towns to impart quality vocational training to the youth and helping them to absorb in local industries. He asked CII to work out their complete plan to cover the entire state. He also approved to constitute a committee for the effective planning and implementation of Gurkul scheme. Regarding the certification the Chief Minister said that to avoid multiple certifications of skill centers, a single certification system would also be formulated with the help and guidance of PHD Chambers of Commerce. Badal further added that no stone would be left unturned to secure the future of our youth. Taking part in the deliberations the Consul General Canada Scot Slessor and British High Commissioner Mrs. Tanisha Thiara who were special invitees, impressed upon the need to establish a cordial and strong bonding between state government and industrial sector here in the country as well as abroad to cater the need based skilled manpower with confidence level at par with that of the skilled workers in the forging countries. Appreciating the efforts initiated by Badal to redress the shortfall of skilled workers in the industrial sectors, S P Oswal (Oswal and Vardhman Co.) along with Rajinder Gupta (CEO Trident group) assured full cooperation and support of entire industry to implement the state's comprehensive plan 'Vocational Training and Skill development- Vision Punjab' in letter and spirit. Prominent amongst those who attended the meeting included Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary Tourism Mrs. Geetika Kalha, Special Principal Secretary to Chief minister KJS Cheema, Principal Secretary Techanical Education SS Channy, Dhaliwal (PUTIA), Ms. Kamna Raj Aggarwalla (CII), Sunil Pandey ( Dir. SLIET Longowal), Sanjeev Duggal (CENTUM), Srikant Bansal (GIC), Rajiv Bali (Phd Chamber of Commerce), Rahul Kumar(FICCI), Parveen Bansal (Regional ILFS), Neeraj Saluja (SEL), Navin Kumar( Metro Cash & Carry) besides all the VCs of PAU, GADVASU and Baba Farid Medical University of Health Sciences.