JALUKBARI, July 24 - Minister for Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship Chandra Mohan Patowary today inaugurated the new office building of the Assam Skill Development Mission opposite ISBT, Katabari here, while also launching a toll-free number and two WhatsApp numbers as part of the Digital Access to Knowledge and Skilled Human Resource of Assam (DAKSHA).
The new infrastructure is expected to connect the youth with training centres and employers, and ensure access to knowledge portals, course materials and market place for micro entrepreneurs and self-employed tradesmen.
The programme was part of the weeklong World Youth Skills Day celebration, which began at the Maniram Dewan Trade Centre on Monday.
Explaining the vision of ASDM, he said the prime objective is to enhance Assam�s global competitiveness, systematise the skill development efforts and create an environment for linkage by developing demand-driven, standardised, dynamic and integrated technical and vocational training. Addressing the skill gap and unemployment issues resulting from the existing delivery mechanism is a priority, he said.
He informed that Singapore, which is doing very well in regard to skill development, has already entered into an MoU with the Assam government, and it has been agreed that trainers from that country will train up youths from Assam. Four agreements were also signed relating to tourism, hospitality, wellness and retail sectors. As part of an agreement signed with Singapore, a skill city of international standard would also be set up at Mangaldai with an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore, he said.
He said the four floors of the newly inaugurated building will be able to accommodate around 400 students. He also hoped that during this fiscal, one lakh youths would be trained in different trades. He emphasised that language skill training is also the need of the hour and a Japanese delegation has already urged the Government of Assam to give six months� language training in Japanese so that Japan can absorb as many electronics engineers from Assam as possible in the IT sectors of that country. Patowary said the government will urge premier institutions like Gauhati University to impart training in foreign languages at the University.
He informed the gathering that yesterday many MoUs were signed at the Skill Conclave 2018, including the one between the Government of Assam and Gauhati Commerce Collage, under which youths will be trained on GST.
He spoke of the �Swabalamban� scheme launched by the government for self-employment of surrendered militants, which he said will assist the beneficiaries to take up different activities in primary, secondary and tertiary sectors. He also mentioned about government initiatives for jail inmates like �Karagar Se Karigar� under which prisoners will get opportunities to engage themselves in fruitful pursuits during their jail terms.
The Minister expressed the optimism that the government�s vision for skilling the youths of Assam would turn into reality in due course of time.
