SHILLONG: Meghalaya Labour Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh inaugurated the two-day Skill Fest held at Government IT, Shillong on Friday organized by the Labour Department in collaboration with the Directorate General of Employment & Craftsmen Training, Ministry of Labour & Employment.
The fest is meant to generate awareness among candidates and facilitate job-oriented skill developmental programmes in the State and it also aims to disseminate awareness on various skill development training programmes initiated under the Skill Development Initiative (SOl) Scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment thereby allowing them to take up training courses suitable to their career needs.
Arnpareen Lyngdoh while addressing the gathering informed that the aim is to accelerate employment growth and raise productivity and income levels across the state.
The dearth of vocational and technical education leading to skill mismatch in the job market is the main reason for unemployment among educated and the youth, she said and added that bridging the gap has been identified as the major challenge for employment.
Further, Lyngdoh informed that the broad strategy for employment in the 12th Plan intends to thrust on the manufacturing sector, making it an engine of growth. During the skill fest various empanelled training partners and placement linked Vocational Training Partners (VTPs) with the department will impart awareness on various training courses being offered under the initiative and select prospective candidates. Selected candidates will then be trained by Empanelled training partners and VTPs on various courses offered including Call Centre, Certificate in Banking & Financial Services & Insurance Customer Relationship Management. Data Entry. Food & Beverages Services. Flight Attendant & Ground Staff, Front Desk Management, Grooming & Life Skills for Hospitality & Services, Health Care, Housekeeping Staff in Hospitals, BPO and IT/ITeS amongst others.
The department intends to select about 10,000 candidates for both the job Guaranteed Short Term Courses through this fest and a minimum of 70 percent of the selected candidates after training will be placed with a minimum remuneration of Rs 6000 plus for placement in state and Rs 8000 plus outside.