Bengaluru, July 15: The Karnataka Skill and Livelihood Taskforce has been formed to create one crore jobs in the next five years, Chief Minister of the State B S Yediyurappa said on Thursday.
"Karnataka Skill and Livelihood Taskforce has been formed to create one crore job opportunities in the next five years.
It is expected to submit its report shortly," he said.
He said this after observing the 'World Youth Skill Day' organised by the Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood today.
Noting that the country, the second highest populated one in the world after China, has human resources of youth belonging to the 18-35 age group, the Chief Minister said Karnataka has a population of 2.21 crore within the age group of 16-35 and many programmes have been initiated to improve the economic and social development of the State by skilling the youth to global standards.
The State has signed an agreement with Tata Technologies to upgrade 150 government ITIs (Industrial training institutes) by September at a cost of Rs 4,636.50 crore, he was quoted as saying by the CMO (Chief Minister's Office) in a statement.
Listing out the various initiatives taken by the government for skill development, Yediyurappa further said it is intended to release Rs 400 crore for 1,93,000 self-help groups as Community Investment Fund under the National Rural Livelihood Campaign.
So far, 17,121 self-help groups have received Rs 149.03 crore.
Eight MoUs (memoranda of understanding) were inked between the government and leading companies with a view to equipping the youth with skills.
The pacts were signed in the presence of Yediyurappa and C N Ashwath Narayan, Deputy Chief Minister who is also the Minister for Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihood.
The MoUs include starting courses related to the automotive sector in selected ITIs in the districts of Bengaluru, Ramanagara, and Tumakuru in collaboration with Toyota Motors, said the Deputy Chief Minister's office in a statement.
It said other companies with which MoUs were entered include Wipro, GE, Narayana Hrudayalaya, ELCIA, ESDM Cluster, Adithya Birla Group, and Home Lane.
An agreement with Auto Desk company to provide training in Mastercam Design Software at Karnataka Germany Technology Training Institute (KGTTI) was also signed.
"The government has planned to sign 40 such MoUs with various companies out of which the eight were signed today.
The remaining will be inked shortly," Narayan said.
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Balodabazar (Chhattisgarh), Jan 22 (PTI): At least 18 students of a government school were hospitalised on Wednesday after they complained of uneasiness in Chhattisgarh’s Balodabazar-Bhatapara district, with locals blaming nearby cement plants for causing pollution, officials said.
While officials said the exact reason behind the situation was yet to be ascertained, the authorities shut down the Alternate Fuel Resources (AFR) centre at one cement plant in the area over the alleged violation of green norms. The company said it has launched an internal probe.
At least 18 students of Government Higher Secondary Girls School at Khapradih village complained of uneasiness and drowsiness following which they were shifted to the Community Health Centre in nearby Suhela, Balodabazar-Bhatapara Collector Dipak Soni told PTI.
Later, six of them were referred to different facilities, including the district hospital, he said.
Their condition was reported to be stable, he said.
Complaints were received about pollution at AFR centre of Shree Cement plant located near the school following which an inspection was carried out on the factory premises, the official said.
Prima facie, violation of anti-pollution norms was found in its operation, which involved the use of chemicals for decomposition of materials for producing fuel, the official said.
A foul smell emanating from the AFR area might have caused uneasiness among students, he said.
Officials from the Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board and the Industrial Health and Safety and Labour Department have launched an investigation in the area to ascertain the exact cause behind the incident, he added.
Meanwhile, former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel claimed the students fell ill after gas leakage from two factories located near the school.
“Honourable Chief Minister ji! If you have woken up from slumber, take care of the fainting school children. Very frightening news is coming from Balodabazar. The scene is so horrifying that I cannot share it here, Baghel said in a post on X, tagging CM Vishnu Deo Sai and the CM's office.
“Due to gas leakage near Khapradih School in Suhela, the health of more than 40 children has suddenly deteriorated. Some children have fainted and some have been facing trouble in breathing. The condition of two children was critical. The rest of the children have been admitted to the hospital,” he claimed.
Students have been falling ill in the school for three consecutive days and the locals have repeatedly complained to the administration, which he said is “asleep”.
“The villagers say two big (cement) plants near the school are causing the pollution. Gas leakage is causing adverse effects on children. The smoke, chemicals and pollutants from the plants are polluting the air and affecting the children's health,” he alleged.
The management of Shree Cement said it has launched an internal probe into the matter and that it was committed to the health and well-being of nearby residents, workmen and their families.
“Shree Cement is deeply concerned about the health and well-being of the students who require medical attention and assures full support in providing necessary medical facilities. We are committed to the health and well-being of the community and take such matters with the utmost seriousness,” the plant management said in a statement.
The company strictly adheres to all statutory approvals and environmental norms, and as part of its sustainability efforts, it co-processes hazardous waste from nearby plants as an alternative fuel, “ensuring its safe disposal and preventing harm to the environment”, the statement said.
“We are also investigating this matter internally, and assure you that the health of the nearby residents, our workmen and their families remain our highest priority, and we are committed to taking all necessary actions to uphold this responsibility,” it added.
माननीय मुख्यमंत्री जी! नींद से जाग गए हों तो बेहोश होते स्कूल के बच्चों की सुध ले लीजिए. @vishnudsai @ChhattisgarhCMO
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) January 22, 2025
बलौदाबाजार से बेहद भयावह खबर सामने आ रही है.
दृश्य इतने भयावाह है कि मैं यहाँ साझा नहीं कर सकता.
सुहेला स्थित खपराडीह स्कूल के पास गैस के रिसाव से 40 से अधिक…
🚨भयावह दृश्य
— Ayush Pandey🇮🇳 (@ayushconnects) January 22, 2025
छत्तीसगढ़ के बलौदाबाज़ार में सुहेला स्थित खपराहडीह स्कूल में बच्चे बेहोश
🔺2 की हालत गम्भीर, लगभग 40 अस्पताल में
🔺कुछ बेहोश, साँस दिक्कत
🔺स्कूल के पास संयंत्र से गैस रिसाव की खबर
🔺लगातार तीन दिन से हो रहे थे बच्चे बेहोश, शिकायत पर भी नहीं जागा प्रशासन pic.twitter.com/ImJMZooIgx