Punjab's ambitious strategy to provide 3.57 lakh jobs every year

Chandigarh, July 10 (UNI) The Punjab Government today decided to involve premiere consultancy agencies, including the Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services (ILFS), for resource mobilisation and implementation of project works in the state.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has called for prioritisation of the need-based skilled training programmes particularly in the infrastructure development, education and technology services, to impart training in construction work, driving and private security.

Mr Badal said that there were opportunities for the youth to get absorbed in many remunerative ventures, but they needed to be equipped with training in line with the growing industry and service sector.

In this connection, State Chief Secretary R I Singh would hold a meeting with the delegation of ILFS to chalk out a detailed action plan to restructure the existing curriculum in ITIs with a view to imparting training to youth in an effective and result oriented manner.

At a meeting about employment generation, the Chief Minister was apprised of the restructuring and strengthening of newly created Department of Employment Generation. There is a potential of 3.57 lakh jobs in Punjab every year till 2020 provided the people had the right skills. The potential lies mainly in construction industry, hospitality and hotel, media and entertainment, food processing, manufacturing, industry and light industry, garment industry, textile and hosiery industry.

Besides, new areas in retail and shopping malls, real estates and reality, health services, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) could also be effectively tapped to provide employment to unemployed youth.

UNI