LT to train Punjab youth in infrastructure development

Chandigarh, Aug 13 (UNI) Larsen and Toubro Ltd (L&T) today agreed to impart technical know how and skill to the Punjabi youth to cater to the business needs of the expanding infrastructure activity across the country.

The step is targeted especially at school dropouts in the state, who are deprived of employment opportunities because of lack of skill training.

The Vice President of L&T, Mr Talpade today called on Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in New Delhi. The two discussed this proposal.

Initially, the L&T would set up a skill training center at Abul Khurana, about 35 KMs from Bathinda, to focus on imparting skill training to the youth of the Malwa region. L&T are already providing skill training to youth in various states in the country.

Mr Talpade informed Mr Badal that more than 80,000 persons were already into active employment after receiving standardised training under the L&T scheme. He said that the group was engaged in a synergetic channelization of youth energies into various fields of commercial activities.

Some of the areas in which the L&T specializes in imparting training are buildings, construction, roads, bridges and other spheres of infrastructure development. Mr Talpade said that there was a scope of an annual 20 per cent to 30 per cent growth in employment opportunities in these areas.

The Chief Minister invited L&T to carry out a feasibility study for setting up of skill training centers in all the major districts of the state. He said that the Punjab government would be willing to provide basic infrastructure for housing and running of these institutions.

He said that the existing ITIs and some educational institutions could also lend their infrastructure in spare time for running these skill training centers.

L&T's skill training programmes were designed in a market driven module to train youth to turn them into effective employable hands.

UNI