Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the proposed internship programme for graduates will be launched this year.
Formally inaugurating the ‘Industry on Campus’ initiative facilitated by the Additional Skill Acquisition Programme (ASAP) Kerala in polytechnics virtually on Monday, Mr. Vijayan said the internship programme would serve to ease graduates into the job sector and prevent them from facing an uncertainty rife among educated youths nowadays.
While the government will provide a share of ₹5,000 towards stipend, the chosen company will have to provide an equal or greater share for the intern, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government will establish skill parks in each district and constituency. These will be launched in addition to the existing skill development centres. Finishing schools are also being introduced across the State to impart skill among youngsters, he said.
Presiding over the State-level inauguration held at the Government Polytechnic College in Attingal, Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said the government has adopted a number of steps to address the problem of large-scale unemployment among graduates in the technical education sector.
Pointing out that efforts were under way to equip students with skills through ASAP Kerala and other agencies, Dr. Bindu said the focus was on moulding them as job creators and not job seekers. Incubation and translational research centres have been provided immense prominence in the State Budget.
State-of-the-art machinery worth ₹6.5 crore have been established by ASAP Kerala in 41 government polytechnics as part of the Industry on Campus initiative. CNC vertical milling machine, CNC lathe, laser cutters and robotics laboratories are some of the additions.
According to ASAP Kerala chairperson and managing director Usha Titus, the initiative will lead to the creation of micro-production units, mini-production centres and independent production centres on campuses. Students will also be able to earn while learning as part of the programme.
O.S. Ambika, MLA, Attingal municipal chairperson S. Kumari and Director of Technical Education T.P. Byjubai also participated.
