Goa govt discouraging handicraft, coir sectors: MLA Sardessai

The ruling BJP was today accused in the Assembly here of going against Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Skill India plan by shutting down several centres under the handicraft and coir scheme in Goa even as the government sought to discuss the matter in the next session of the House.
Raising the issue during Question Hour, Independent MLA Vijai Sardessai today claimed that various centres in the state under the handicraft and coir programme were shut down by the government over the past few years.
"While on the one hand the prime minister has been talking about the Skill India Programme, several centres under the handicraft and coir programme have been shut down.

"Many embroidery machines are dumped and left to rust in the Kundaim industrial estate," he said.
The legislator further claimed that the carpentry programme, too, has been closed down by the government.
Responding to the charge, state Craftsman Training Minister Deepak Dhavalikar said that "the answer is not within the purview" of his department.

Coming to his aid, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar said that a detailed discussion on the issue can be held during the next Assembly session.
"Let us discuss this issue in the next (Assembly) session," he said.
Prime Minister Modi had in July last year launched the ambitious 'Skill India' Mission which aims to train 40 crore people in various skills by 2022 as part of the "war against poverty".