Punjab Industries and Technical Education Minister Mr Madan Mohan Mittal today announced that the UGC has given its nod for the functioning of Open and Distance Learning Centres of LK Gujral Punjab Technical University. He said that these centres would start functioning from now on and would benefit more than 50,000 youth and would generate employment for more than 5,000 youth. Mr Mittal was in the city to attend a function on women empowerment being organised by FICCI FLO at a hotel, here today.While speaking to media persons, the Punjab Industries and Technical Education Minister said that these Open and Distance Learning Centres were not operating for the last around 30 months. He said that now that the University Grants Commission (UGC) has given its nod, thousands of youth which cannot afford college education would be benefitted in a large manner.He said that ever since these centres were closed down, the Punjab government was in talks with the UGC and had taken up this matter seriously. He informed that the letter of approval has come today. He said that there are around 200 such centres in the state, which were non functional till now. Mr Mittal said that the owners of the Open and Distance Learning Centres of LK Gujral Punjab Technical University have been informed about this welcome development and they would soon start their operations.
The minister said that to make sure our youth, especially from rural areas, have better understanding of the subjects related to technical education, the textbooks would be translated and published in Punjabi language. He said that the UGC approval in this regard has also been received.While delivering his lecture at the function on Women Empowerment by FICCI FLO, the minister stressed on not only empowering women, but also on their education and protection. He said that for the commission of Punjabi women in armed forces, the Punjab government has started Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preperstory Institute at Mohali where girl students will be enrolled every year. He informed that the students taking admission in this institute will get free of cost education of graduation, besides they would be trained for commission in the armed forces. "They would be trained to become an officer," he said amidst applaud by the gathering.He said that the Punjab government as well as the BJP led NDA government at centre has already started several schemes for the welfare of women and many other are in the pipeline. On behalf of the Punjab government, he assured members of FICCI FLO all possible help.