MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday assured the Goa Legislative Assembly that the Aviation Skill Development Centre (ASDC) at Mopa will not be shut down.
Sawant also said that new courses will be added including hospitality to keep the centre running.
He said the objective of ASDC is to skill the youth of Goa to find prospective jobs in the industry but does not guarantee a job.
“A total of 1,032 youth have been skilled at the centre, of which 991 have been absorbed to work at the Mopa airport as on June 30. Such trend may not continue in future as most of the vacancies at the Manohar International Airport, Mopa are already filled,” Sawant said, while responding to a starred question tabled by Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar.
The CM informed that at the moment 15 courses, all related to aviation, are offered at the centre.
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai said that as per the agreement signed by the government the minimum students required for the ASDC to run was 15 and inquired whether the centre will be closed if the required number of students were not available.
“Even if there are not enough students we will not shut down the centre. We will introduce new courses. We will also ask them to introduce courses in the hospitality sector,” Sawant said.
He said the ASDC was affiliated to the national skill centre and is recognised by the Government of India.
He further informed that after learning the skills at the centre the students can take jobs even internationally.
Benaulim MLA Venzy Viegas inquired whether the skill centre was recognised at the international level.
“It is recognised in India but I will check if it has global recognition,” the CM said.
Earlier, while raising the issue during the Question Hour, Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar wanted to know how many youth benefited from the ASDC at Mopa airport and what was the future of candidates who have completed the course but could not get jobs.
