Assam CM Sarma launches series of initiatives for skill development

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday inaugurated training centres to train 5,750 youth under the Assam Skill Development Mission under 59 vocations at the programme held at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati.

It may be noted that in the same programme, CM Sarma also flagged off “Skill Yatra” to generate a skill awareness programme initially in four districts through skill vans. The districts are Kamrup, Nalbari, Darang and Morigaon.

He also launched a scheme namely “Indigenous Skill Training by Gurus”. Under the scheme, initially, 15 districts will be covered to undertake the programme and 10 candidates will be selected from each district.

Besides, the Chief Minister also launched the process of releasing stipends through DBT to 500 trainees under the Jal Jeevan Mission and Assam Skill Development Mission.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Training Centre of Schwing Stetter. As a part of the programme, 50 trainees from ITI Guwahati will be trained for the job of concrete Pump Operator.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the inauguration of training centres in Assam is an important development for skilling the youth of the state and making them fit for employment as well as for self-employment.

He said that the 60 training centres set up across the state under the state-funded Placement Linked Skill Development Training Programme to train the youth in short-term skill courses will prove to be a force multiplier in making the youth employable and creating self-employment avenues in the state.
He said that 59 job roles across 10 sectors will cover all the 60 training centres across the state.

The Chief Minister said that the Skill Yatra that he flagged off would also go a long way in connecting students of classes 9 to 12 of government schools with a provision to counselling the students along with their parents.

Sarma also said that under the Indigenous Skill Training by Guru scheme, special focus will be made on preserving and promoting indigenous trades of Assam like mask making, bell and brass metal etc.
The Chief Minister also said that the State government is on track to skilling the youth of the state to make them self-reliant. He said that since Assam is rich in tourism, hospitality and other associated fields, the skilling of the youth will help them meet the demands of the job markets.

Talking about the bell and brass metal industries, Sarma said that adequate skilling of the artisans in these trades will help them to create products that will be aesthetically superior along with their durability. He also spoke on the need for a fusion of traditional and modern methods to make handicraft items more attractive.

The Chief Minister also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch a scheme namely Viswakarma on 17 September for skilled workers. The scheme will also help the skilled workers in the state to hone their skills to the satisfaction of their customers.

He, moreover, said that the State government will also launch a scheme where two lakh youth will be skilled in modern technology.

He said that the State government will collaborate with Tata Technology to train the youth of the state in 70 ITIs on concepts and components like AI, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality etc. to make them ready for ‘Industry 4.0’.

He also thanked ASDM for designing and organising the programmes which according to him would bring about a paradigm shift in the skill landscape of the state.
The Chief Minister on the occasion also interacted with mask-making artiste Bell Metal artisan virtually on the occasion.

Minister Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship etc. Jayanta Mallabaruah while speaking on the occasion gave a brief snapshot of the programmes.
He also said that the schemes have been launched primarily to help the youth of the state to become employable and create self-employment avenues in the state.

Minister Revenue and Disaster Management Jogen Mohan, Minister Tea Tribes Welfare Sanjay Kishan, MP Rajya Sabha and Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Pabitra Margherita, Principal Secretary Skill, Employment and Entrepreneurship B Kalyan Chakravarthy, Mission Director ASDM Ankur Jain and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.