CII launches development and educational project in HP

Chandigarh, July 17 (UNI) As part of the social development initiatives, CII Himachal Pradesh State Council has launched various programmes for the students and for the infrastructural development in Himachal Pradesh in close collaboration with the government.

CII HP State Council Chairman Rajender Guleria, while sharing the work plan chalked out for the state and deliberating on the social initiatives at CII Northern Region Headquarters here today said ''CII's Chetna--The Career Counselling Centre being launched in the month of August, at Mandi will provide career counselling to around 3,000 final year students from 23 Degree/Engineering Colleges from six districts across the state to bridge the skill gap and hone their behavioral skills to enhance their employability,'' He also informed that Ambuja Cements and ACC would co-sponsor the Counselling Centre for the first academic session.

Talking about the industry institute parternship, Mr Guleria elaborated that the CII HP State Council had been consistently working towards the empowerment of Institute Management Committees (IMCs) and had proposed to constitute a State Steering Committee which would work for the empowerment of IMCs.

He further said that 13 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) were short-listed for public-private partnership by the Government, out of which CII made committment to upgrade nine ITIs.

To enhance industrial competitiveness, CII HP State Council would also work in close collaboration with the government on major infrastructural issues like ESI Model Hospital at Baddi, upgradation of ESI Hospital at Parwanoo, and upgradation in the functioning of ESI dispensaries at other industrial areas, Mr Guleria said.

CII HP State Council would also take up the issue of road and Rail infrastructure with the State and the Central Government, added Mr Guleria.

The CII also plans to organise major events including the Consumer Fair at Mandi and Brand Himachal Fair at Chandigarh jointly with local authorities, to promote Himachal as a tourist destination.

''Holding Public-Private Partnership as the key to balanced growth, CII's HP State Council will be intensively working for developing a shared, agreed vision for industrial development of Himachal Pradesh through submission of industry specific reports and pre-budget memorandum,'' Mr Guleria said.

''CII Himachal State is also planning an Ayurveda Summit to draw the attention to this neglected sector which has huge potential for investments,'' he said.

Mr Guleria said CII HP State Council would retain its strong focus on rural economy by campaigning for the setting up of Rural Business Hubs in the state in the coming year.

HIV/AIDS awareness programme, water harvesting, environment, women's empowerment, community development and youth livelihood options programme would be the part of social development initiatives of CII HP State Council throughout the year, he said.

UNI