Gangtok : The Chief Minister of Sikkim Pawan Chamling graced the valedictory program of the two-day Skill Fest & Job Mela here at Saramsa Ranipool. The two-day program was organised by the Department of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Government of Sikkim. Speaking on the occasion, Chamling stated that though Sikkim is the first State to start Skill Development and Capacity Building, the youth of Sikkim have still not been able to move beyond the confined world of seeking Government jobs.
He added that the Government realizes this tendency and organizes such job fairs at regular intervals to break the mould and help the skilled and educated youth to get recruitment in the field of their expertise. The Chief Minister urged the young participants of the skill fest to embrace the opportunities provided by the Government through such recruitment drives and platforms. He further stated that the Government has provided ample opportunities in the education sector such as free education till graduation level, and full scholarship to students who get admission in the top 20 Universities in the world. He added that the Government has established technical institutes and even livelihood schools to impart short term courses to prepare the youth for employment.
The Chief Minister also stated that the Government has provided adequate facilities to impart the best education to students so that they are employable. Similarly, the capacity building institutes impart practical training on various skills which are in huge demand in today’s time, he added. He further informed that the Government has sent young people from Sikkim to other states for training in skill and capacity building. The Chief Minister further added that the youth of Sikkim should be prepared for the huge demand for skilled workforce.
He urged the youth to ensure that all the demands that arise in daily life should be met by the skilled workforce of Sikkim. He added that Sikkim will soon become a Smart State and with it there would be demand for smart jobs. He called on the youth to step out of their comfort zones and work towards self employment and self reliance. The Chief Minister also highlighted the opportunities created by the Government in the service sector and more so in the field of Organic agriculture. Similarly he called on the youth of Sikkim to tap the unlimited opportunities in sectors like transportation, power and industry, trade and business, and tourism hospitality and wellness. He stated that the opportunities provided by the Government in every sector are perennial. Earlier, Labour Minister Mr D.D. Bhutia urged the youth to imbibe courage and discipline in their respective field and overcome challenges through grit and determination. He urged the Department officials to maintain continuity of all the programmes of the Department and to constantly monitor the progress.
He maintained that the State Government has always been a front runner in skill and capacity building and added that the youth should change their mindset from being job seekers to job providers. The Programme was also addressed by Principal Secretary, Department of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Dr. K Jayakumar. The valedictory program also saw the signing of an MOU between Government of Sikkim and Maruti Suzuki Pvt Ltd for setting up of a plant in Sikkim. Likewise, four private companies namely Kevin Care, Acor, Maruti Suzuki and IQST were felicitated by the Chief Minister for their participation in the Skill Fest and for providing employment to the youth of Sikkim. Similarly, Eight students of Namchi Blind School were felicitated on the occasion. A few books and newsletters of the department were also released on the occasion. It may be mentioned here that a total of 22 private companies participated in the two-day Skill Fest & Job Mela, and an estimated 600 skilled and educated youngsters were provided on-the-spot placement.
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