Union minister for skill development and entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey on Sunday urged the Assam government to allot suitable land for setting up a Northeast Skill Centre here, which would cater to the skill development needs of the region’s eight states.
Pandey called on Sonowal at Brahmaputra State Guest House here and discussed various issues related to skill development in the state. Sonowal assured that land had been identified for the skill centre and would be provided soon.
A statement from the chief minister’s office said Sonowal urged Pandey to provide the necessary support to the state government for expediting the process of setting up the Assam Skill University. Sonowal said it would help the youths of the region to fulfil their dreams of becoming able citizens.
Sonowal also urged Pandey to set up a National Skill Training Institute centre in the state so that trainers in ITIs in the state could be provided quality training here.
In the absence of such an institute here, trainers need to go to Calcutta to get training themselves.
“Pandey assured us that he would take necessary action in this regard,” the statement said.
During the meeting, Sonowal also raised the issue of low quality of construction work carried out by unskilled contractors and the resultant dilapidation of public infrastructure like roads, bridges and buildings within a short period.
Sonowal called on the ministry to take initiative to provide skills to the contractors for making Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a new India a reality. Pandey directed ministry officials present in the meeting to explore the possibility of developing programmes for skill development of contractors in partnership with the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship.
Industry and commerce minister Chandra Mohan Patowary apprised Pandey about various steps taken by the state government for skill development of youth. He informed that according to the Assam Industrial Policy, an amount of Rs 10,000 would be given by the state government as incentive to the industries against recruitment of each local youth.
