Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu flagged off a Skill Van (Kaushal Rath) on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day from his official residence Oak Over here today. He also announced launching of the new batch of training of 15000 candidates of Himachal Pradesh in niche areas like Robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), Aviation, Hospitality etc.
It is pertinent to mention here that Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs. 58.67 crore were signed for these training programmes during April-June 2023. He said that Himachal Pradesh Kaushal Vikas Nigam (HPKVN) would ensure participation of women candidates also in these high value training programs.
Chief Minister also flagged off the second skill van from Rubber Chemical & Petrochemical Skill Development Council (RCPSDC), which aims to appraise and support candidates working as tyre fitter service mechanics, who have extensive experience but lack formal certification. He said that the skill van would provide an opportunity for these individuals to undergo short-term training and obtain recognized certificates, which will validate their skill set in the
This skill van will travel to all parts of the state for the next 2 to 3 months covering the target group. He said that the objective of ‘Kaushal Rath’ was to create awareness among the youth of the state about various fully sponsored training programs being run under HPKVN.
He said that this innovative initiative would reach out to young people in all districts and provide them with valuable information and resources to enhance their skills. The skill van is a mobile unit equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and resources dedicated to promoting skill development.
It travels across different districts, making stops in communities, assembly constituencies, Panchayat, Blocks, ITIs, Government Offices, Schools, Colleges, Major Market Areas and Private Training Institutes reaching out to a wide range of young individuals.
With the help of District Coordinators, the skill van would also organize workshops, seminars and interactive sessions to engage with the youth directly. Experienced trainers and industry professionals would conduct skill demonstrations, giving young people a glimpse into different fields and industries.
These sessions aim to inspire and motivate young individuals to explore their potential and pursue training in areas that align with their interests and aspirations. The Chief Minister said that this Kaushal Rath would provide information on vocational courses, apprenticeships, entrepreneurship opportunities and other skill-building initiatives.
He said that the van will utilizes IEC materials like brochures, pamphlets, audio and visual aids that explain the benefits and requirements of various training programs, enabling young people to make informed decisions about their career. The provision of spot enrolment will also be available through skill van, he added.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that this skill van would eliminate barriers such as lack of awareness, accessibility and information asymmetry besides ensuring that every young person has equal opportunities to enhance their skills and improve their employability.
Education Minister, Rohit Thakur, Rural Development and Panchyati Raj Minister, Anirudh Singh, Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Sanjay Awasthi, OSD to Chief Minister, Ritesh Kaprate, Mayor, Shimla Municipal Corporation, Surender Chauhan, Secretary to Chief Minister, Abhishek Jain, Managing Director H.P. Kaushak Vikas Nigam, Jatin Lal and other senior officers were also present on the occasion.