Ensure Mudra Loan scheme for skilled people; Pradhan

DAINIK NATION BUREAU

The frame work of the Skill Eco System will be ready within two months in Uttarakhand. A wok plan to train 40 lakh youth between age group of 15 to 59 to make them employable and self-employable through Skill Development with the help of Central government will be prepared in the state. Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Union Minister Dharmender Pradhan reviewed the working of Skill development scheme in Uttarakhand at Chief Minister’s residence on Sunday.

Pradhan said that there are 176 Industrial Training Institutes (ITI’s)  in the state which is a large number taking into consideration the population and the geographical area of the state. There should be proper utilization of these. Industry should be encouraged to adopt  ITI’s and there should be tie-ups with the industry and ITI’s. The industry should not only upgrade these ITI’s but also offer placements to its students. The central government will provide full support to the state government.

There should be special focus on efficiency development of people involved in tourism industry in Uttarakhand. There is need for skilling and re-skilling of hotel, restaurants, vehicle drivers and guides. According to a report, people of Uttarakhand prefer self-employment rather than taking up private employment. The state government should act as a facilitator to fulfil the expectation of the youth. For skill development of youth for next three years, the state government’s department of MSME, School Education, higher education, skill development and Tourism should join hands to prepare a skill eco system work plan and start work on it in a time bound manner.  The central government is ready to fully support it. The children from school level should be taught skills as per their likings.

The Union minister said that there is lot of expansion of national highways in Uttarakhand which would provide lot of employment opportunities in different fields in roadside activities. He said that to make the youth capable of employment and self-employment there is need to ensure a system of their efficiency development. The skill people should be provided loans through ‘Mudra Loan Scheme’.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the focus of his government is on service sector since there are many possibilities of employment and self-employment in service sector. It should be given special attention in the skill development work plan. The state government has set targets for 2020 and is working with full commitment to achieve those targets. Employment is given top priority to stop migration and skill development plays an important role in this. “ We have taken several small initiatives and ‘Devbhog Prasad Scheme’ is giving positive results. Prasad worth Rs.1.5 crore has been sold to pilgrims at Badrinath and Kedarnath prepared through Women self-help groups. The Prasad is prepared with local products like ‘Chaulai’. There are record number of pilgrims visiting ‘Char Dham’ this year and tourists coming to other places in the state,” he said.

Cabinet minister Dr Harak Singh Rawat, Higher Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat , Union Secretary of MSME Dr KP Krishnan, Joint Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Uttarakhand Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Ranveer Singh, Principal Secretary Manisha Panwar, Secretary Bhupinder Kaur Aulakh, Dr. Pankaj Kumar Pandey and other officers were present in the meeting.