JAMMU: Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar today chaired a meeting to review the functioning and overall performance of Skill Development Department (SDD) at Civil Secretariat here.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary, Skill Development Department, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon; Secretary, Youth Services and Sports, Sarmad Hafeez; Mission Director, Skill Development, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; Director Skill Development Department, Sajad Hussain Ganai; Development Commissioner Works J&K, Chief Engineer R&B Jammu, Chief Engineer JKPCC and other officials of the department while as Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
The meeting reviewed in detail the physical and financial achievements under centrally and state sponsored projects including status of new Polytechnics, creation of tangible assets under Polytechnic and ITI sectors.
The Advisor observed that the Skill Development Department has a pivotal role to play in providing skill development to overcome the problem of unemployment in the state.
Asserting that the education and skill building are the core means for empowering youth, Advisor Bhatnagar directed the concerned officers to work with utmost efforts to ensure empowerment of youth by way of imparting requisite proficiency.
The Advisor impressed upon the officers to start orientation in schools and colleges regarding Skill Development courses offered by the department in ITIs and Polytechnic colleges so that maximum students are attracted towards these courses.
He stressed upon the officers to work on linkages between Skill Development and School Education departments as per the National Education Policy-2020.
Giving a detailed presentation on the functioning and performance of SDD, Director Skill Development, Sajad Hussain Ganai informed the meeting that 32 ITIs are being upgraded through Public Private Partnership for which an amount of Rs. 80 crore has been earmarked. He added that under this partnership, 80 Trade units of different ITIs have been upgraded besides 85 new trade units have been established.
He also informed that 25 workshop blocks have been constructed to house newly established trade units.
While reviewing the status of 18 newly established Polytechnic Colleges, the Advisor directed the concerned executing agencies to complete the ongoing projects in stipulated timeframe. He also asked the concerned officers to conduct regular field visits and inspect the working of departments on ground.
Regarding the establishment of Centre for Invention, Innovation, Incubation and Trainings (CIIIT) at Polytechnic College Jammu and Polytechnic College Baramulla, the Advisor was informed that the works on these centres are almost completed and the process of admissions is going on.
The Advisor directed the concerned officers to utilise these centres to its full potential as they offer certain innovative and modern courses in the field of technology.
Advisor Bhatnagar further asked them to create awareness among students across the colleges of Jammu and Kashmir through camps in coordination with Higher Education Department. He also asked them to hold webinars and online counselling sessions to make public as well as students aware about the quality and prospects of the courses offered through CIIIT.
The Advisor further asked the officials to reach out to the industrial estates across Jammu and Kashmir to highlight the courses offered through CIIIT so that the workforce there can also be attracted.
During the meeting, Advisor Bhatnagar also reviewed performance of Craft Development Institute Srinagar and Food Craft Institute Jammu.
He asked the officers to prepare the students for making innovations in the traditional handicrafts and handloom products so that they get refurbished in consonance with modern trends in fashion industry.
