Work hard, we will secure your future: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann tells youths

TNN
Ludhiana: Inaugurating a renovated ITI centre in the city, chief minister Bhagwant Mann said that the multi skill development centre had remained vacant and unutilised for years due to the apathy of previous governments. He said that the centre would provide courses to youths in disciplines like artificial intelligence, aviation, hospitality, tourism, agriculture skill development, fashion designing, beauty and wellness, nursing, CNC programming, electrician, welding, and other courses accredited by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
The CM was in the city for inauguration of a renovated multi skill development centre (MSDC) as well as new course facilities at the Gill Road ITI. He was accompanied by education minister Harjot Singh Bains, Punjab industries minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, and industrialists.
Mann said that in view of the tremendous scope of skilled manpower in various sectors, the state government had been focusing on delivering quality skill training to the youth so that they could capitalise on the demand of the local industry. According to him, the skill development center would fulfill the twin objectives of catering to the industry's need for skilled manpower and opening new avenues for employment.
According to the CM, centre has a 20-acre campus, with facilities for training and job placement of over 3,000 students. He commended Rajya Sabha member Dr Vikramjit Singh Sahney for adopting and mentoring ITI Ludhiana, for which he contributed Rs 2 crore from his MPLAD fund and an additional Rs 70 lakh for its upgrade and modernisation. Describing the centre as a "campus of excellence," Mann said that it would offer cutting-edge technology courses including robotic welders, 3D printing machines, CNC machines etc in digital classrooms with audio-video set-ups and advanced training labs.
The CM said that youth who were gainfully employed would shun drugs. He added that since unemployment was the root cause of several social problems, the state government was focusing on providing jobs. He said that so far, around 55,000 government jobs had been provided to the youth.
Mann on drug menace
The chief minister claimed that previous govts had patronised the drug mafia while the AAP govt had launched a crusade against drugs. Mann added that after meticulous planning, a full-scale war against drugs had been launched. Apart from cutting supply lines, the state govt had incarcerated major drug smugglers and seized their property, he said, soliciting public cooperation.
The chief minister said that the state government had issued a Whatsapp helpline number, 9779100200, for people to share information pertaining to drug smugglers operating in their area or city. He assured that the identity of the caller would be kept secret.
Advice to youth
The chief minister said that youth of the state had the capability of excelling in any field, which must be utilised properly. He added that the state government would provide them with a platform to excel in the field of their choice.
Advising the youth to work hard to achieve their goals, the CM told them to stay rooted. He also urged them to work in the state, saying that there was a lot of scope of progress at home.
CM lists govt's achievements
Mann claimed that the state was lagging in terms of development due to the "regressive policies" and "malicious intent" of previous governments. He said that due to the faulty policies, industry was suffering and drug mafia as well as gangsters were running riot. Mann said that since the day he took charge, his govt had focused on holistic development of the state and prosperity of its people.
Mann said that the state government had fulfilled almost all the guarantees. He said that on the one hand, the BJP-led NDA govt was enhancing the rate of toll every day while on the other, the state govt had closed 17 toll plazas in Punjab. He also said that a plan had been chalked out to give a major push to the development of every sector.
On water and power
The chief minister said that that the previous govts never made any effort to save groundwater, due to which farmers at tail ends never got water. Mann said that after assuming charge, the AAP govt revived 15,947 water courses in the state, due to which water reached tail ends even in remotest villages.
He also said that the govt started providing free power to households from July, after which 90% of them were getting free power. Mann said that for the first time, the state government had purchased a power plant from a private firm to make the state surplus in power production.
Communal amity & investments
The chief minister said that communal harmony, peace and amity in Punjab were responsible for overall development and prosperity in the state. Due to the strenuous efforts of the Punjab govt, investments worth around Rs 97,000 crore had come in over the last three years, he said. He added that congenial atmosphere of the state, excellent infrastructure, power, skilled human resources and industrial and work culture were aiding its development.
Poor arrangements: Students
Students of govt schools and ITI complained about poor arrangements at the inauguration event of the renovated multi skill development centre and ITI. Students of govt schools started arriving at the venue at about 9am and kept streaming in till about 12pm, when the event was scheduled to begin. The CM arrived at around 2 pm.
Students had to fetch water from the water tanker on their own and went for lunch all at once after the event at about 3pm. Many students could be seen coughing as clouds of dust blew up from the uncarpeted area.
"I tried to help students of my school get food but there should have been staff stationed to keep everything orderly and systematic," a teacher said.