The present era of Globalisation and Liberalisation has wide opened new vistas of employment and self-employment for educated youth of the state. The State Government, in order to create experienced technical human resource pool in the state is laying special emphasis on Technical Education. Besides proposing Skill Development Allowance to eligible unemployed youth of the state, the network of technical institutions is being strengthened so that Himachali youth could be provided with best of technical education.
Five new Polytechnic Institutions have been started in Kullu, in Barthi of district Bilaspur, in Paonta Sahib; district Sirmour, in Lahul & Spiti district and in district Kinnaur from this academic session. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs. 12.30 crore each for above institutions under ‘Sub Mission on Polytechnics under Coordinated Action for Skill Development’. The present government has decided to open Industrial Training Institutions (ITI’s) in all those Vidhan Sabha Constituencies where there is no ITI at present. All these technical institutions are being started with the objective of upgrading the technical skills of the youth so as to prepare them for employability in industrial sector with enhanced capabilities. Besides, additional Courses would also be started in those existing polytechnics where number of courses is less than five.
Himachal Pradesh is well known for its abundant Hydro Power potential which according to latest survey stands at 27436 Mega Watt. Skilled and Professional manpower is necessary to harness the full hydel potential of the state. The State Government has decided to set up a Hydro Engineering College at Bandla in district Bilaspur in collaboration with National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) and National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) so that best trained manpower meeting the requisite standards of hydel projects be trained and they can find employment in the state itself. Suitable land for setting up of this college has been identified by the state government.
The salubrious environ of Himachal Pradesh is also suitable for Information Technology (IT) based industries and sincere efforts are being made to provide quality IT education to the students. Smart Classrooms are being started in 618 Government Senior Secondary Schools and 837 Government High Schools in this financial year. State Government is also introducing vocational education in 100 new Senior Secondary Schools in Automobile, Retail, Security and Information Technology sectors with the aim to improve the employability of students from 9th to 12th class.
The State Cabinet recently gave nod to establish Rs. 128 Crore Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) at Saloh in district Una. This would be the 12th IIIT of the country and first of the state. The total cost would be borne in 50:35:15 by Government of India, State Government and Private Partners. An Engineering College would also be established in district Kangra under Rashtriya Uchhtar Shiksha Abhiyan. Due to the concerted efforts of the present state government, Government of India has also provided affiliation to the Government Institute of Engineering and Technology, Pragatinagar, district Shimla.
At present 269 different type of technical institutions are functioning in the state which are catering to the needs of about 50,000 students. These include 2 Engineering Colleges in Government Sector, 17 in Private Sector, One B. Pharmacy College in Government Sector, 12 in Private Sector, 10 Polytechnic in Government Sector, 19 Polytechnic in Private Sector, 2 D. Pharmacy Colleges in Private Sector, 75 ITI’s, 8 ITI’s for women, One ITI for Physically Handicapped, One Motor Driving and Heavy Earth Moving School and 121 Industrial Training Centres (ITC) in Private Sector.
State Government has also decided to provide Skill Development Allowance of Rs. 1000 per month to those educated unemployed youth of the state who are 10+2 and above educated, are between the age of 25 to 35 years, are registered in employment exchanges of the state for at least two years and are not working anywhere. For getting this allowance the family income of unemployed educated youth should be less than Rs Two lakh per annum. Persons with disabilities will receive Rs. 1500 per month as Skill Development Allowance. The allowance would be provided for a period of two years as most skill development courses can be completed in three months to two years. Unemployed youth would be able to utilize this allowance for skill up gradation in any sector in which they intend to pursue their career.
All these initiatives of the present state government are aimed at providing the youth of the state with better technical education at their door steps so that Himachal could emerge as Hub of Technical Education in the country.
