MAPUSA
Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye on Monday wondered aloud whether the State government was falling short in providing jobs to students undergoing skill development training courses.
Shetye, on the floor of the House, also said the government needs to buck up in providing skilled training in new courses which could fetch employment to Goans.
“Is our government inefficient to skill students so that they can be gainfully employed after going through the skill development training courses?” asked Dr Shetye, who is an Independent MLA and supports the government.
The Bicholim MLA also expressed shock with the State government’s response that no data was available on the number of employment generated after conducting such training courses.
“So, what is the use of undergoing skill training courses? How will we know if the course really helps our youth to get jobs?” he asked.
He further stressed the need to introduce new training courses in keeping with the changing times and suggested courses in mobile repair and water sports.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant informed that a mobile repair course was available in the syllabus but there were no courses providing skill in water sports activity.
“We will also start some more new courses from the new academic year,” said Sawant, who also holds the portfolio of skill development and entrepreneurship.
He further informed that the Sanklap scheme to train students in the Directorate of skill development and entrepreneurship has been extended till March 2024.
“This Sankalp scheme is jointly funded by the Centre and the State government in the ratio of 60:40 percent. An amount of Rs 170 lakh has been sanctioned under this scheme under which Rs 102 lakh is released by the Centre in 2019-20 and the 40 percent was funded by the State government,” the CM said.
Sawant informed that the skill training courses provide jobs in government establishments such as Public Works Department, electricity, etc. and also in private sectors like hospitality management and pharma industries etc.
To another question, the CM said industries cleared by the Investment Promotion Board have been told to provide 70 per cent of the jobs to locals.
