The Hindu : Karnataka News : Centre to set up 50,000 vocational training schools

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Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Centre to set up 50,000 vocational training schools

Staff Correspondent

It is a part of ‘skill mission’ programme for youth

1,500 ITIs likely to be opened in select taluks
University should become a centre for research: Minister

UNDERSTANDING: Union Minister Oscar Fernandes taking a look at the building plan of the Employment and Guidance Bureau of the university in Mangalore on Tuesday. K.M. Kaveriappa (third from right), Vice Chancellor of Mangalore University, is seen. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes said on Tuesday that the Centre will soon launch a “skill mission” to hone the skills of youth in employment-oriented ventures.

He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a building for the Employment Information and Guidance Bureau of Mangalore University at Mangalagangotri here.

Mr. Fernandes said that methods of implementing this programme were discussed at a meeting in Delhi on Monday. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram attended the meeting, he added.

The Government would deliberate with the representatives of industry on their requirements of skilled human resource, he said but did not specify as to when the mission would be launched.

The Government was planning to open 50,000 vocational training schools in the country to train the youth. In addition, 1,500 industrial training institutes (ITI s) in select taluks would be opened across the country. However, opening of ITIs was not linked to the skill mission programme, he said.

Mr. Fernandez said that the nurses were on high demand in the U.S. and the Europe. If they knew yoga they get priority in employment, he added.

Participating in an interaction with students and teachers, the Minister said that the university should emerge as a centre for research. Stating that corruption could be eradicated only if all people fought against it, he said: “Right to Information Act is a right step taken by the Government in that direction.”

Replying to a plea from K.M. Kaveriappa, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Mr. Fernandes said funds for infrastructure would not be a problem.

Prof. Kaveriappa said: “The Centre has allocated Rs. 100 crore to Mysore University in its 2008-09 Budget. It can grant at least Rs. 25 crore to Mangalore University.”

He said the Mangalore University immediately required Rs. 11 crore to construct an auditorium, an outdoor stadium and a pareeksha bhawan on its campus.

K. Baradol, co-ordinator of the bureau, said that the new building would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 75.74 lakh. It would funded from the career guidance fee collected from students. “The university is collecting Rs. 40 each from under-graduate students and Rs. 80 each from postgraduate students a year as career guidance fee. The bureau organises career guidance programmes to students, periodically,” he said.

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