Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (MSCLZ) Rs 4.75 Crore ‘Skill Development Centre’ Inaugurated on 26 February 2023 has Remained CLOSED after its launch till TODAY
Mangaluru: Quality in vocational training was chosen as one of the focus areas under the overall mission of National Well-Being. Aligning with this government objective, one of the projects under Mangaluru Smart City was, the “Skill Development Centre and Safety Training Centre”, and the building which was completed in 2022 was delayed for inauguration due to pandemic/other reasons, and was later inaugurated on 26 February 2023 near Hoige Bazar, Mangaluru in the Fisheries dept campus, by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, along with other politicians. However, right after the Centre was launched, it has remained CLOSED, till Today, with no training or courses scheduled.
The project aimed to provide state-of-the-art training facilities which will result in enhanced employment opportunities for the locals in industry as well as outside ventures with standardized certification processes, and the project was implemented with the College of Fisheries, Yekur. The project included the construction of a Skill Development Building and providing cost for running proposed courses for the first 2 years.
A one-month course on ‘Scuba diving and Snorkeling’ was among the eight short-term courses that the College of Fisheries to commence from the 2024-25 academic year at Scuba diving among short term courses to be available at new skill development centre The other short-term courses to be included were aquarium fabrication and ornamental fish maintenance, aquaphoenix/kitchen gardening and hydroponics, techniques in fish processing, using fish waste for manure, modernisation of fishing boats, and fish net making and repair.
On the inauguration day, speaking to the media, Professor A.T. Ramachandra Naik from the Department of Aquatic Environment Management of the College, who is the coordinator of the Skill Centre, said that steps have been taken to procure equipment necessary for the new courses. Also speaking at the inauguration programme, Mangaluru City South MLA D. Vedavyas Kamath said he has urged the then Fisheries Ports and Inland Water Transport Minister S. Angara to have programmes, including promotion of seaweed cultivation, that will help fishermen earn during non-fishing days.
The Smart City Skill Development and Safety Training Centre was supposed to be taken up by six Government ITIs around the City. The different courses aligned to provide the skilled staff for the maintenance of the smart city projects will be selected and owned by these six ITIs. The infrastructure set-up requirements to run these courses were to be provided for through the Smart City Project funding.
Sources reveal that Officials have confirmed that a schedule has already been prepared for the Skill Development and Training Centre at the College of Fisheries, which is scheduled to commence in February.2024. Until then we will have to keep our fingers crossed whether the Centre will open for training come February. We have heard promises made by ministers and other officials in the past, and we can believe them ONLY when they keep their word, and projects materialize. As of now, the Skill Development Centre and Safety Training Centre”, costing Rs 4.75 crores remains non-functional!