CII launches first skill development centre in M.P.

New Delhi: The Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Mr Kamal Nath, launched India’s and CII’s first National Centre of Excellence for Skill Development in Chhindwara district, Madhya Pradesh.

This is the first initiative of its kind in the country set up by CII through private-private partnership and a small but unique step to try and bridge the skill gap.

“When we talk about 6 to 7 per cent growth rate in major cities, I do not see this growth in tier 2 and 3 cities,” the Minister said. He also said that in the race for getting employment, youths in the districts always lose out in the last mile. The CII National Centre of Excellence for Skill Development in Chhindwara will attempt to ensure that employability increases, Mr Nath said.

He said that with the CII National Centre of Excellence for Skill Development, Footwear Design and Development Institute and an NIIT centre, Chhindwara has become one of the few districts in the country to be offering so many skill development courses.

Outlining the activities of the Skill Development Centre, Mr Rajendra Prasad, Chairman, CII-Madhya Pradesh State Council, said initially training will be imparted in masonry, bar bending, welding, excavator operators and fitters for a period of 1 to 3 months.

Each batch will have 15 to 30 students for each trade and will be run by CII member companies, namely Ambuja Cement, JCB, L&T and Punj Lloyd, among others. Training in the areas of auto mechanic, security guards and drivers would be included in due course.