Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh could not inaugurate the Skill Development Centre as he got late due to an official meeting.
Skill Development Centre is Punjab’s first Agricultural Programme under the Agriculture Skill Council of India. Though PAU officials were disappointed, they were also satisfied that Punjab got its first skill centre dedicated to agriculture.
The aim of the centre is to cater youngsters on agriculture related career opportunities with competency standards, development of national occupational standards, and sector-specific jobs.
Jaskaran Singh Mahal, Director, Skill Development Centre, PAU, will impart skills to farmers and youngsters, unemployed youth, and extension functionaries for creating and starting new enterprises. He said, “We have a dedicated faculty with the support of all departments of the university.”
Associate Director of the Skill Development Centre, TS Riar said, “People between 22-40 years of age can enroll in this centre. Their qualifications can be uploaded on the portal. A total of 15 job roles have been approved by the Agriculture Skill Council of India, including gardener organic grower, quality seed grower, baking technician, tractor operator, and green house fitter.”
Admissions have already begun for this centre in this month. 40 students are applying for Agriculture Extension Service Provider, but as there are only 20 seats, the other 20 will be registered in February.
The eight-day course has international recognition, in which a trainee will get Rs33 per hour. Saturday will be dedicated to practicals. More than Rs 4 crore has been sanctioned for this centre, with five laboratories, 10 classrooms, one staff room, one computer room, one store, and one library. The centre will also have three smart classrooms.
