UPA to spend Rs 30,000 cr on skill development

The UPA government at the Centre has drawn up a Rs 30,000 crore 'skill development programme' for youths which would be implemented in the next five years, Union Minister for Labour and Employment M Mallikarjun Kharge said here today.

"Under the programme, three to six months training would be given to youths in various employment skills," he told reporters here.

"The Centre is planning to start certificate courses in ITIs. A target has been set to train at least 50 crore youths by 2022," he said.

Kharge, who created a record by winning his tenth consecutive election in his political career spanning four decades and inducted into the Union Ministry on his maiden entry into the Lok Sabha from Gulbarga Reserved constituency, arrived here last night.

Kharge said a medical college and a super specialty hospital in Bangalore and another medical college and a hospital under the Employees State Insurance Corporation in Gulbarga would be established.

Plans were afoot to provide treatment facilities to poor labourers employed in the mining sector in Bellary, he said.

On Karnataka getting four ministerial berths, he said, "Our responsibility has increased. We will discharge our duties sincerely."

On the oft repeated charge by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa that "Centre has a step-motherly attitude towards Karnataka", Kharge said, "Yeddyurappa should take off this from his mind. Making such accusations for political reasons should be given up."