Emphasising the need to impart Skill Development Training to youngsters, the Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal today asserted that her ministry has made an exclusive plan to execute this program to cater to the emerging Food Processing sector. She also announced that different dishes from different states of country would be branded in foreign shores under the banner of ‘Brand India’.Describing this program as top priority of her Ministry, Mrs. Badal said in the first phase Skill Development Training programmes would be organised for educated youth. She said 10,000 youth would get this practical training in first phase and this number would be increased as per the needs of the industry.Presiding over the function hosted by Employees Provident Fund Organisation to facilitate its pension beneficiaries Mrs. Badal informed that Food Processing sector had great potential and there were scores of possibilities to grow in this profession. She said 17 Mega Food Parks were being developed in the country, which would give big push to the industry besides laying strong base of this emerging industry.
She said growth and enlargement of food processing was the dire need of the nation to bring food products from ‘farm to platter’ so that self-employment, self-help groups and increasing employment sources could further strengthen the economy of country. She said at present only 2.5 percent fruits and vegetables were under food processing while 36 percent of total milk production, which was too little. Mrs. Badal said a scheme was under progress to establish different dishes from different states of country under the tag of Brand India in foreign countries.Lauding the bold initiatives taken by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, Mrs. Badal said it was the vision of Mr. Modi to project general masses as Pilot of country’s economic growth and bringing poverty stricken classes into the ambit of progress. She said that Jan Dhan Yojana and Swach Bharat Abhiyan was the symbol of PM’s vision. She said that Mr. Modi was also initiating steps to make Governance System more convenient and impressive for the facilitation of general masses.
Accusing the former UPA Government for misusing exchequer, Mrs. Badal said it was the result of ill-managed financial strategies of UPA government that the present incumbent was facing financial problems. She said that Food Processing department was still facing pendency of subsidies from the year 2003 till date, which would be disbursed in coming year.She also appreciated the move of Prime Minister to set minimum pension of Rs. 1000, which would directly extend benefit to more than 50 lakh people.Answering media queries Mrs. Badal said that Jan Dhan Yojana would provide benefit to each household of the country besides covering the family members under insurance cover. She also honoured EPF Pension Beneficiaries.Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included Mr. Chuni Lal Bhagat, Labour Minister, Mr. K.D. Bhandari, Mr. Pawan Kumar Tinu, Mr. Avinash Chander all CPS, Mr. Jangveer Singh, Media Advisor to Deputy CM and officers of all departments.