Through Mamata’s ‘Utkarsh Bangla’ project, 1,100 got jobs in and out of the state in a month

Abhijit Ray, Kolkata:-The chief minister’s initiative to provide employment, including technical training, through the ‘Utkarsh Bangla’ scheme has started bearing fruit. Around 1,100 youths trained from vocational training centres (VTCs) have got jobs in various private companies in the state and abroad in the last one-and-a-half months. The technical training department has organized a district-wise ’employment camp’. Camps have already been held in Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, two 24 Parganas, two Medinipur and Jhargram districts.The dates of the camps were finalised in Bankura, Purulia and Murshidabad and several other districts. However, they had to be postponed as panchayat polls were announced. After the elections, the camp will be held in the remaining districts. According to official sources. Apart from VTC, iti trainees are also being provided jobs from the camps. There are a total of 2,652 VTCs in the state. A total of 42 subjects were given free long and short-term technical training. VTCs offer courses on various subjects such as auto mobile (automotive), construction (construction), textiles (textiles), computers, agro-based industries, etc. Courses are decided on the basis of the type of trained staff required in industry and trade bodies. In various administrative meetings, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee laid special emphasis on taking initiatives for employment through technical training. Some such meetings are also attended by representatives of industry and trade bodies.The government is now very active in ensuring that private companies get involved in this initiative and provide jobs to the trained youth of the state. The technical training department sent a letter to all VTCs directing them to start the process of employment. It has also been ordered to have a ‘placement coordinator’ in each VTC. Willing trainees are asked to join the employment camp. It is because of the special initiative and surveillance of the Chief Minister that the great initiative has been so successful. The Mamta Banerjee’s Government aims to introduce a Flagship Scheme in the State of West Bengal for the entire non-institutional, non-project mode, short term Skill Development interventions to provide wage/ self employment linked skills training to the residents of the State. Integrating all Skill Development interventions at the State level, this scheme shall be called the “UTKARSH BANGLA” . The objective of the Scheme is to skill individuals to empower them to engage in wage employment or self-employment leading to improved livelihood through increased earnings, and/or improved working conditions, and/or opportunities to move from informal to formal work sectors.The skills imparted will be compliant with National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF)/ NCVT/ QP – NOS and conform to prevalent National norm and Standards. The training shall be in National Council(s)/ Industry validated and market relevant skills based modules followed by assessment and certification procedures that have an all India acceptance