Taking a leap forward for emerging the state a hub of ‘Skilled manpower’ through product and process innovation, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave nod for setting up a state-of-the art Multi Skill center at the vacant lying premises of ‘Knitwear Facility’, managed and run by Punjab State Hosiery and Knitwear Development Corporation, here at local Industrial Focal point. A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister during a high level meeting with the captains of the local industry here at circuit house.Taking part in deliberations the Chief Minister, who earlier visited the premises of this defunct center in the morning, impressed upon the Industrialists to play a pro-active role in the promotion of Skill training centers across the state with a twin objective of coping up with the needs of industry to have skilled manpower on one hand and opening new vistas of employment for the youth on the other. Assuring fulsome support and cooperation to the industrialists for executing and managing this ambitious project, he said that the entire capital cost of restructuring and renovating the existing infrastructure at the Knitwear facility would be borne by the state government and the Committee comprising of eminent industrialists would manage the affairs of this upcoming Multi skill center. Underscoring the need for providing separate Hostel facility for the Girls and boys enrolling in this Multi Skill Center, Mr. Badal asked the eminent industrialist to visit the ‘Knitwear Facility’ along with the officers of district administration to have first hand information for preparing a Detailed Project Report for this Center.
The Chief Minister further said that imparting quality skill training to the youth across the state was the need of hour to stamp out the curse of unemployment from the state. He said that this Multi skill center would impart training to 2000 unemployed youth, particularly to encompass the major section of drop outs who left the studies after tenth or twelfth due to economic hardships, every year in around 15 courses in Bicycle/ cycle parts, textile, apparel and garments, auto components, hand tools and light engineering industry besides in service sector including Hospitality, retail, healthcare and others. He also asked the Committee to put in place a training module for the students in consultation with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and other premier organizations engaged in skill training programs.
The Chief Minister further said that there was tremendous scope of skilled manpower in Health, industrial and service sectors due to which the state government has been focusing to deliver quality skill training to the youth on modern lines for coping up with the demand of local industry. He said that three para medical skill centers would be soon opened in the state at Faridkot, Amritsar and Patiala to give boost to Medical skill training in the state adding that even the upcoming Rehabilitation centers for drug addicts would also focus on providing skill training to the youth for gainful self employment. Likewise, Mr. Badal also said that Skill centers were also being opened in Jails across the state to impart skill training to the inmates.On the occasion the Chief Minister also constituted a committee of key industrialists headed by Mr. PankajMunjal to look into the affairs of this Multi Skill center. The other members of committee included Ms. Sandeep Minni Riat, Mr. SP Oswal, Mr. Upkar Singh, Mr. SC Ralhan, Mr. Avtar Singh and Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana. Mr. Badal also directed the Deputy Commissioner to get this committee/ society registered at the earliest for the smooth management of its affairs.
Summing up the deliberations, the Chief Minister asked the committee to implement this project within three months and assured to provide lump sum amount requisite for repair, renovation besides machinery/ infra structure required for skill training as a part of capital cost. He further said that once the project took off the running expenses for managing the day-to-day affairs would be equally shared by the state government and society. Mr. Badal also asked the committee especially the Deputy Commissioner to work out the modalities for the renovation of premises of ‘Knitwear Facility’ according to the requirement to impart training to atleast 2000 unemployed youth every year.
Earlier welcoming the Chief Minister, MD Hero Cycles Mr. Pankaj Munjal highly appreciated his vision and concern to empower the educated unemployed youth of the state by affording them an opportunity of skill training so that they could be meaningfully absorbed in the local industry. Mr. Munjal reiterated his firm commitment to emerge the upcoming skill training center as a major hub in this regard in the region.Prominent amongst those who attended the meeting included Cabinet Minister Mr. Sharanjeet Singh Dhilon, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal, MLA Mr. Darshan Singh Shivalik, Principal Secretary Industries Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Secretary cum Director Industries Mr. Raminder Singh and Deputy Commissioner Mr. Rajat Aggarwal.The Industry was represented by MD Hero Cycles Mr. Pankaj Munjal, MD Akal Springs Ms. Sandeep Minni Riat, MD Vardhman Special Steel Mr. Sachit Jain, MD Ralson Mr. Sanjeev Pahwa, MD New Swan Industries Mr. US Ahuja, CMD Trident Group Mr. Rajendra Gupta and Mr. Vishal Juneja from Vidhata group.