2 international-standard MSDC to come up

Having set the target to train one million youths in various job generation skills in the next five years, the State Government has now initiated steps for establishment of international-standard multi-skill development centres (MSDC) in the State.

A high-level meeting, presided over by Chief Secretary B K Patnaik, here on Monday decided to set up two such centres at Jatni in Khurda district and Berhampur in Ganjam district in the first phase with technical assistance from Germany.

The proposal for upgradation of 14 industrial training institutes (ITIs), covered under public-private partnership (PPP) mode, at Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Kakatpur, Baripada, Anandpur, Barbil, Chhatrapur, Umarkote, Malkangiri, Bargarh, Boudh, Balangir and Khariar Road with technical expertise from German Technical Aids was also discussed.

The Chief Secretary advised the newly-created Employment and Technical Education Department to intensify activities in this direction.

Possibility of utilising the German Technical Aids for developing the newly set up Government ITIs and polytechnics in Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Deogarh and Sambalpur districts also figured in the discussion. ?

At present, two multi-skill development centres, aided and assisted by Germany, are now successfully operating in Karnataka __ one in Bangalore and the other at Gulbarga. Those institutes are imparting skill development training in automotive mechatronics, advanced welding, electronics design and manufacturing, industrial automation, construction technology, tool room and training centre, electrical and electronics maintenance, refrigeration and air-conditioning and information technology (IT).

A team of experts from the State has already visited those institutes. The Chief Secretary advised the Director, Technical Education and Training (DTET), to select the areas where there is growing demand for skilled workers. The directorate should work out the technical details and submit it to the Government for approval.

Development Commissioner RN Senapati, Finance Secretary JK Mohapatra, Revenue and Disaster Management Secretary Taradatt, local head of the Central Institute of Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) PC Padhi and other senior officers of the Government participated in the discussion.