Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur stressed for geographically highlighting and branding the districts as per their prominence in various specialized skills or products like handlooms, handicrafts, woodcraft, miniature paintings so that these can be popularized globally. He said that district Chamba for 'Rumal', Kullu and Kinnaur for Shawls, caps, handlooms and handicrafts. Kangra paintings has already made its presence felt at national and international level and the need of the hour was to enhance the skills of those interested to continue with the traditional vocation for self-reliance.Chief Minister was presiding over the meeting of Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) here today.He asked to focus on the trades and skills which could be easily accomplished rather than those which cannot be achieved in short span of time. I want that the factual positions should be projected and things to be seen on the ground level in times to come, he said.There is a lot of scope in providing skills to youth in farming and horticulture sector besides short and long term training programmes for enhancement of employability.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister Shri Mahender Singh Thakur emphasized on giving training in mushroom cultivation, tourism and training based upon the trades which could generate self employment avenues to the youth abroad. He also stressed upon training in plumbing, pump operating in his department to the youth besides, specialized training programme in horticulture sector which has vast scope of employability.Managing Director Skill Development Project Shri Rajesh Sharma gave a detailed presentation of the skill development project and said that bachelor of vocational courses (B.Voc ) has been started in retail and tourism and hospitality in 12 colleges of the State.He said that since inception, HPKVN has signed MoU with more than 20 Sector Skill Councils, Government of India and key Industrial Associations to provide employment opportunities to the unemployed youth in the State.HPKVN has completed Pilot Training Program for 1080 trainees in eight sectors in 13 job roles at six locations-Kangra, Kullu, Mandi, Solan, Shimla and Sirmaur.Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Shrikant Baldi, Secretary Project Monitoring to Chief Minister Dr. R. N. Batta were also present on the occasion.