HAL and IISc to set up skill development centre

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Indian Institute of Science (IIsc) will jointly establish a skill development centre (SDC) in Karnataka's Chitradurga district.

The 'bhoomi pujan' for the centre was performed at Challakere in Chitradurga district, around 230 km from Bengaluru, on Thursday, a statement said.

The concept of the SDC was in the pipeline for nearly eight years at IISc. HAL came forward to support the infrastructure for the centre under their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, the statement added.

Speaking on the occasion, T. Suvarna Raju, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL, said: "This will go a long way in recognising and honing skills and providing opportunities for youth at various levels in line with the Government's 'Skill India' initiative."

Prof. Anurag Kumar, Director IISc, said the goal is to create a model facility that would provide skill development programmes for various beneficiaries from local community to high-end engineering professionals.

The new IISc campus in Challakere will host the SDC. The centre is expected to come up in 24 months.

--IANS

rs/lok/dg