Skill development varsity set to come up in State: CMY S Jagan Mohan Reddy

Amaravati: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday conducted a review meeting on skill development and took crucial decisions like introduction of more employment-oriented courses and setting up a university for skill development at the State-level.

The Chief Minister decided to set up one college in every Lok Sabha constituency and affiliate them to the university to improve skills among the students who are pursuing ITI, polytechnic, engineering and other courses. All the government departments would also be coordinating with the university.

The students would be given apprenticeship for one year to improve their skills and if necessary, it would be extended by six months. An IAS officer would be appointed in three or four days to ensure the smooth functioning of the university and also for undertaking skill development programmes. Funds would be generated by the finance department for skill development and employment generation instead of separate departments.

The Chief Minister has also decided to digitalise the existing employment exchange and provide an application like the Ola or Uber. Efforts would be made to map the existing skill development resources locally at the village Secretariat level.

Similarly, skill development resources would be provided locally for any work. Efforts would be made to provide employment opportunities to the people through skill development. The Chief Minister said the State should be a role model to the world with the establishment of the university.

Minister for Finance Buganna Rajendranath, Education Minister Adimulapu Suresh, Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy and Chief Secretary LV Subramanyam were among those who attended the review meeting.

The Chief Minister pointed out that though there were good plans for skill development and employment generation, coordination and synergy were lacking between departments. He said each department was spending funds for the purpose on its own and this has to be streamlined.

Jagan outlined the need for bringing all skill development programmes by various departments under one umbrella. The Chief Minister said 25 colleges in the State would be affiliated to the new university that is going to be set up.

He said the university would formulate plans for upgrading the technical skills of the students according to the changing technological trends in the world. He directed the officials to complete an action plan for setting up the university in a month.