Punjab to focus on skill development; announces 3 centres

Multi-skill development centres would also be established in six cities

To give a fillip to skill development in the state, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Monday announced the opening of three skill centres of excellence for medical and paramedical in government medical colleges at Amritsar, Patiala and Faridkot.

Six multi-skill development centres (MSDCs) would also come up at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Bathinda, Hoshiarpur, Amritsar and Ropar.

The decision was taken by Badal in the first meeting of the governing council of the Punjab Skill Development Mission (PSDM) held here, an official spokesman said.

Envisaging this step as a move towards evolving Punjab as a pool of skilled manpower, Badal announced a sum of Rs 15 crore for the three centres and asked the PSDM to grant Rs 5 crore each to the six upcoming MSDCs in the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).

Badal also gave a nod to prepare a comprehensive plan to open skill development centres for construction workers in Majha, Doaba and Malwa.

Badal asked the principal secretary (labour) to work out the modalities after consultation with the leading construction and infrastructure companies on the basis of their requirements.

A hi-tech transport skill centre would be opened at Jalandhar by the transport department on the lines of such existing institutes at Mahuana in Muktsar district, he said.

Emphasising the need to provide boarding and lodging facilities to the youth who are keen to join these centres, the chief minister said each skill development centre would be provided with hostel accommodation to facilitate the training in a hassle-free and result-oriented manner.

Taking part in the deliberations, Badal underscored the need to focus the modules/courses of skill development training related to the nature and requirement of local industry.