Deputy Commissioner S.J. Somashekhar has directed officials to prioritise employment and self-employment opportunities for young people by organising skill-training programmes under the state government’s Kaushalya Karnataka (Skill Karnataka) scheme.
He was speaking at a meeting held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to review implementation of the District Skill Mission. The meeting was organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood.
Somashekhar advised officials to visit undergraduate and postgraduate colleges across the district and provide students with guidance and training in self-employment skills. He also instructed the District Employment Exchange Officer to arrange training programmes to help students prepare for competitive examinations.
Rekha Ganapathi of the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood said the tourism sector had a strong demand for trained personnel. Accordingly, skill-training programmes were being planned for the sector under the Kaushalya Karnataka scheme. Training would also be offered in 29 fields, including data-entry operations, plumbing, painting, battery repair, nursery management, mushroom cultivation, beekeeping, tailoring, embroidery and automobile maintenance.
District Employment Exchange Officer Manjunath said the Yuvanidhi guarantee scheme provides financial assistance through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to eligible graduates and diploma holders. A total of 2,511 young people in Kodagu had registered under the scheme: 416 in Kushalanagar, 673 in Madikeri, 269 in Ponnampet, 731 in Somwarpet and 422 in Virajpet. He added that Yuvanidhi Plus includes skill-development initiatives intended to improve the employability of unemployed graduates and diploma holders.
A representative of the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development of Karnataka (CEDOK) said the organisation would conduct an entrepreneurship-awareness camp. A Skill Development Officer explained that the Nal-Jal Mitra programme was being implemented under the Jal Jeevan Mission by the Karnataka Skill Development Corporation in collaboration with the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Various other initiatives, including PM SVANidhi, were also being implemented.
Monti Ganesh said training in electrical work and plumbing should be expanded because of the demand for these trades in the district. Shalini of Vruksha Training Institute observed that young people were keen to acquire skills that could lead to full-time employment.
Lead Bank Manager Gangadhar Naik said the Self-Employment Skill Training Centre run by Union Bank at Kudige offered a range of training programmes and encouraged young people to make use of the facility. ITI College Principal Yogesh and Training Officer Indresh said the college could provide training in CCTV installation, plumbing, house wiring and computer skills.
Those present included Shashidhara, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department; Somashekhara, Deputy Director of the Agriculture Department; local-body chief officers Krishna Prasad, Nachappa and Gopi; and officials from various departments.
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