Thiruvananthapuram: In a significant move to bolster the employment landscape, Kerala Labour Minister V Sivankutty has announced that the state government will roll out a comprehensive set of major projects over the next three months. These initiatives are designed to strengthen the employment sector and ensure enhanced skill training for the youth, addressing key areas of financial assistance, overseas opportunities, and infrastructure development.
Focus on Youth Employment and Skill Enhancement
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Sivankutty outlined the focus areas, which include providing financial assistance and employment for young people, securing excellent opportunities abroad, and modernizing infrastructure. The minister emphasized that most of these projects will be launched next month, marking a proactive approach to tackling unemployment and skill gaps in the state.
Key Initiatives and Launch Timeline
The initiatives span various sectors, with specific timelines for implementation:
- Karmachari Project: Set to launch in the first week of February, this project aims to foster a culture of work alongside studies through collaboration with employers.
- Indo-German Training Fair: Scheduled for the fourth week of February, this fair will provide opportunities for around 500 students to pursue dual vocational training in Germany, with stipends up to Rs 1,30,000.
- Memorandum of Understanding: A cooperation agreement with the State of Hessen in Germany will be signed in the second week of March.
- Innovation and Research Park: To be established in Kottarakkara, offering training in drone technology, with a transit campus starting operations at Govt Polytechnic College, Ezhukone, in the second week of February.
- Skill Complex: A Rs 45-crore facility at Chalai will be inaugurated in the third week of March.
Infrastructure and Worker Welfare
The government is also investing heavily in infrastructure and safety measures:
- ITI Renovation: A Rs 482-crore project to renovate Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with industrial support will commence in March, with new buildings in Varkala, Peringome (Kannur), Kuttikol (Kasaragod), and Maniyoor (Kozhikode) to be inaugurated in February.
- Career Centres: Model career centres are ready in Kannur and Thrissur Thalapilly, while career development centres will open in Karamana and Chelakkara in February. The Model Employment Exchange in Kozhikode will begin operations at the end of January.
- Insurance Scheme: An accidental death insurance scheme of Rs 5 lakh for workers registered under the Wage Protection System will start in the second week of February, with a worker contribution of only Rs 150.
- Loan Scheme: A loan scheme for autorickshaw and taxi drivers will also be launched to support their livelihoods.
Digital Initiatives and Government Commitment
To enhance worker rights and accessibility, a mobile app for filing complaints in 12 languages will be launched in the third week of February, catering to approximately 6,00,000 factory workers. Sivankutty reiterated the government's commitment to completing these transformative projects on time, underscoring a dedicated effort to revitalize Kerala's employment sector through strategic planning and timely execution.
