AGARTALA, July 22 (TIWN): To enhance the productivity of youth and make them employable the Tripura Government had targeted to generate 1 lakh employment under the skill development training programme. However, keeping this in view the Tripura cabinet on Tuesday chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had decided to create directorate of skill development under the state Industry and Commerce Department, said Finance Minister Bhanulal Saha.

Talking to the newsmen at the civil secretariat after the cabinet meeting Saha said, “The state government is eyeing forward to generate employment under the skill development programme.” The state government had targeted to generate at least 1 lakh employment by 2022, minister said.

Skill development programmes in the north-east helps the youngsters to earn a decent livelihood and prevent them from taking up any unlawful activity. It also gives a boost to the state's economy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 15 launched the Skill India campaign on the occasion of the first World Youth Skills Day in view of opening a war against poverty in the country.

However, as part of the programme the Tripura government had taken up certain initiatives under the skill development training programme to meet the cry of youths especially the youths of the rural areas.

Saha said that skills development is an essential element in improving the employability and potential productivity of the working poor and can be an important tool for reducing poverty and exclusion and enhancing competitiveness and employability.

Minister also added, “The skill development mission would be headed by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar whereas a new committee would be constituted which would be headed by Chief Secretary Y P Singh.” The committee will comprise of 12 departments, he said.

The selected candidates including the dropouts and the educated youths would be recruited soon for the training purposes which aims to generate more employment and make the youths self employed, Saha said. He also said that such programme is nothing new in Tripura as the government had already kicked off the programme at Indranagar ITI from the year 2007.

Therefore it is nothing but this programme has been now upgraded into national level and the Union Government has set a target to train 50 crore youths of the nation by 2022. However, but the Tripura Government had targeted to bring at least 1 lakh youths under its coverage.

According to the experts there is an urgent need to create a confident work force here in land-locked state of Tripura. They say if the younger generation can’t face challenges, they themselves will become a challenge for the country.

However, it is worthy to mention here that in Agartala, the IL and FS Institute of Skills has been conducting training programmes in hospitality and tailoring that is benefitting a large number of youth in the state by providing them employment.

The institute has trained around 1,500 students in tailoring and hospitality sector. Having collaboration with companies in various sectors, the institute has helped in providing placements to its students within Tripura and in places like Bangalore, Chennai and Kerala.