Punjab to set training centres to help jobless youths

Hoshiarpur, Oct 20 (UNI) To overcome the ever increasing problem of unemployment, Punjab government will set up training centres to impart technical and professional education to youths in state, Punjab Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal announced here today.

Speaking after inaugurating the Gursewa Institute of Nursing at Garhshankar, 40 Km from here at village Panam in Garhshankar sub division, the Chief Minister said the state was unable to meet the great demand for skilled and semi-skilled workers in the multi-national companies arriving in Punjab.

''On account of this, the state government had formulated a programme to impart training to jobless youths in various technical and professional trades,'' he said.

There was a great demand in these companies for youths in security sector and the state government was making arrangements to provide training to some youths in the security sector on experimental basis at Jahan Khelan, 8 Km from Hoshiarpur city. ''If successful, more such training centres would be opened in other parts of the state,' Mr Badal said.

The Chief Minister said despite a debt of Rs 25000 crore, which was left by the previous Congress government of state, the SAD-BJP government had made a comprehensive plan for ensuring regular education and availability of teaching and non-teaching staff, buildings among other things etc. in rural areas and would also set up Adarash Schools for free education to brilliant students of weaker sections.

Later talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said state government would provide requisite funds to make payments to the beneficiaries in Shagun scheme and reconsidered the cases which were left earlier.

Replying to a question, Mr Badal said no agriculture land would be acquired by the state government for development of the industry. Lands required for public utility would only be acquired by the government.

Responding to another query, the Chief Minister said there was no misunderstanding between the SAD and BJP. ''Even if any misunderstanding arose, it could be sorted out amicably'', he stressed.

Mr Badal later laid the foundation stone of a school building to be opened in the memory of late Kuldip Singh Chack, an SGPC member, who was assassinated two years ago, at village Chack Alla Baksh in Mukerian sub division.

He announced a grant of Rs 5 lakh for the school building and paid floral tributes to Kuldip Singh Chack.

UNI