S.A.S. Nagar/ Chandigarh, July 28: “The Union Government is formulating a plan to lay LPG pipeline in the 13 districts of Punjab and the facility first of all would be provided in the SAS Nagar district. Apart from this, the Union Government would also extend full cooperation in respect of the skill development university at Chamkaur Sahib which would enhance the professional skills of the youth of Punjab.” These views were expressed by the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Minister Mr. Dharmendra Pradhan at village Saneta on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of the 1st National Skill Development Institution of Punjab for girls and inaugurating the ‘Pradhan Mantri Hunar Vikas Kendra’ for differently abled (‘Divyang’) at Mohali.
Appreciating the efforts of the State Government for making available land for the institution, Mr. Pradhan said that this institution would not only cater to the students but also to the trainers of various trades for the sharpening of their skills. The courses pertaining to the skill development would be taught here and this institution would prove beneficial to the other states too. This institution would cost Rs. 17 crore and 240 girls would be imparted training here.
The Union Minister said that Punjab has abundant talent in terms of skill the only thing needed is to develop it as a brand so as to ensure its reach in all corners of the globe. He also said that this would result in the fast pace development of not only Punjab but the whole country. He promised wholehearted support to Punjab Government in this regard and SAS Nagar would be made the hub of employment. He also promised that the LPG laying project would be executed with the aid of state of the art equipment and the supply of gas through pipeline would also lessen the economic burden on the people. He promised that the people from saneta would be accorded preference in the jobs in this institution as well as the admission in the courses.
Earlier, while welcoming the Union Minister, the Technical Education Minister, Punjab, Mr. Charanjit Singh Channi thanked the Union Government for extending cooperation with regard to this institution and disclosed that the state government is undertaking path breaking measures in the sphere of skill development. Elaborating, he said that job fairs are being held by the state government to fulfill the promise of providing employment. He also thanked the people of saneta and cabinet minister, Punjab, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu for ensuring the availability of land for this institution. Divulging more, he said that every year approximately 80000 youth are migrating to foreign shores leading to a capital drain to the tune of Rs. 20000 crore every year. He further said that in most case the youth are duped on reaching abroad and a major chunk of the money given by them is appropriated by the agents. He demanded from the Union Minister to enact a special law to end this loot of the youth or start such a portal where those interested in going abroad and the foreign companies too would be registered.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development and Labour Minister, Punjab, Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that this project at saneta was pending since long and the officers had told him that in case it doesn’t gets started on time it would be taken back from the state. This made him undertake efforts to ensure the project gets kicked off which has materialized today. The panchayat of village saneta has given 5 acres of land worth Rs. 25 crore for this institution for which he is thankful to the people of the village. He demanded from the Union Government that the earlier quota of Punjab in Indian Army should be reinstated and the state be given special industrial package on the pattern of neighbouring states besides the waiver of the loans of the entire farming sector of the country. He said that Punjab is predominantly an agrarian state and to boost agriculture and make it a profitable venture it is important that more and more processing units be set up here and the bottlenecks regarding the skill development centers of the labour department be removed.
The MP Mr. Prem Singh Chandumajra on the occasion welcomed the LPG pipeline project and demanded that the work related with this pipeline at mohali should be completed at the earliest. He also termed as boon for the girls of the region the institution being set up at saneta.
Among others present on the occasion included MLAs Mr. Kuljit Singh Nagra, Mr. Gurpreet Singh GP, Mr. Narinder Sharma, Mr. Harinderpal Singh Chandumajra, Political Secretary of Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu—Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan, Senior Deputy Mayor Mr. Rishav Jain, Secretary Technical Education Mr. D.K. Tewari, Deputy Commissioner Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, SSP Mr. Kuldeep Singh Chahal, Chaudhary Rishipal, Chaudhary Harmail Singh, Bahadur Singh, Satveer Singh, Thekedar Mohan Singh Bathlana and officers of the technical education department & people of the region in large number.
