Assam CM, Rudy discuss skill development measures in state

New Delhi, April 25 (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today met Union minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy here and the two discussed a range of issues concerning skill development and entrepreneurship training in the state.
During the discussions, Rudy, the Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister, said the Centre would extend 100 per cent support to the Government of Assam’s Skill Development Mission initiatives.Senior officials of the state government led by Additional Chief Secretary, KV Eapen said Assam is ready to hand over 10 buildings to the skill development ministry for converting them into state-of-the-art skilling centres.
On drivers training centres in the State, the officials apprised the Union minister that a 10-acre land parcel on lease will be provided for these centres and land of Assam State Transport Corporation for skill centres all over the state.
An MoU will be signed between the state and the Centre for jointly operating these centres by National Skill Development Corporation and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Rudy said that his Ministry is interested to set up an International Skill Centre in the state and asked the state government to allot a suitable land in and around Guwahati for the purpose.
“Terming it as a good move, Chief Minister Sonowal said this would be a big fillip considering Government of India s Act East Policy that will open up the frontiers with neighbouring countries of South East Asia,” a statement said.
Rudy expressed the Centre’s desire to set up training centres in tribal areas where the educated girls will be provided job linked training, including taking care of the aged and elderly and asked the state government to submit a proposal.
Sonowal assured Rudy that the state government would prepare a comprehensive roadmap and submit the same at the earliest, the statement said.
The chief minister also urged the Union minister to impart skills to youth with minimum education for their recruitment in the Indian Army, CRPF and major organisations like the Railways.
The Union minister while appreciating the idea said that the ministry will work on it in broad consultations with major service providers to ease out the unemployment problem.
Sonowal requested Rudy for his help to create a pool of quality contractors in the state for taking up major infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, water supply and power projects and those under JICA, World Bank and ADB externally aided projects.
Following this suggestion, Rudy said that his ministry in association with the World Bank technical team, NTPS and Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship in Guwahati would organise a series of enhancement building capacity programmes to create a pool of qualified contractors capable of taking up major projects in Assam.