State to focus on youth skills: Minister

Says Kerala needs to shed social stigmas and the ‘land of controversies’ tag

February 08, 2016 12:00 am | Updated 05:44 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

Labour Minister Shibu Baby John presenting awards to winners of competitions organised as part of Skill Fiesta at its valedictory in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.— Photo: S. Mahinsha

Labour Minister Shibu Baby John presenting awards to winners of competitions organised as part of Skill Fiesta at its valedictory in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.— Photo: S. Mahinsha

The roadmap is ready for the State to emerge as the global destination to upscale skills of educated youth, Minister for Labour and Skills Shibu Baby John has said.

Addressing the valedictory function of the three-day Nypunyam International Summit and Skill Fiesta 2016 here on Sunday, the Minister said Kerala had set an example for the country to follow and the road map was ready.

“There are a couple of obstacles that we now need to remove from our path. It is a fact that we do not understand the dignity of labour. Parents are not sure as to how the aptitude of a child is determined. Social stigmas come attached when a future career is thought about,” he said.

Land of hopes

The industry was not doing much to create a skilled workforce, and it needed to hand hold talent and develop skills in youth. Kerala should shun its land of controversies tag and transform itself into the land of hopes, he said.

Later, he distributed prizes to winners of the Skill Fiesta contest.

The winners in each category got a gold medal and a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh, while the second prize winners were presented with a silver medal and Rs.50,000 each.

Director of Employment & Training K. Biju welcomed the gathering and presented an overview of the event.

Managing Director, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), Rahul R., and President SMS’ 80 Foundation & SKINET Member, Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), Ramesh Babu spoke.

Winners

Alex Jolly, a Plus Two student, who stole hearts of all those who witnessed the Skill Fiesta with his Mobile Robotics skills was chosen the Skill Icon of the Year 2015-16.

The Plus Two student, who competed against seniors at least 7 years elder to him and made a mark in the contest, was presented with a cash prize of Rs.20,000 by the Labour Minister.

Categories

Basil Paul from Govt ITI Kalamassery won the first prize in the Autocad category. In Automobile technology, Faris Rahman C. (MAO Pvt ITI Kavannoor, Malappuram), won the first prize.

The first prize winner in the Bakery & Confectionary category is Saran S. (BTC Kollam), in Carpentry is Vipin Chandran B.S. (Govt ITI Attingal (South Zone), the first in Catering and Restaurant is

Jobin Thomas (Bachelor of Hotel Management), in Electrical is Vishnu Radhakrishnan (Govt ITI Chalakudy), Electronics is Joji John Varghese (Mar Baselios College of Engineering & Technology), in Fashion Technology is Sushama Saju (Degree), in Fitter Nandu Soman, in Mobile Robotics Jubin George Kurien (B.Tech (Mech), in plumbing Siraj P.K. (Govt ITI Kozhikode), and welding Sarath S. (Govt ITI Dhanuvachapuram).

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