AP Targets Jobs For 1 Lakh Youths A Year Through CEDAP
Lokesh directed the officials to set a target of providing employment to one lakh youths every year through CEDAP.
Vijayawada:Education and IT minister Nara Lokesh has directed officials to ensure effective implementation of the skill development programmes being taken up by the Centre and the state government to create large-scale employment opportunities for youths.
Reviewing the functioning of the skill development department with senior officials on Thursday, Lokesh took stock of various skill training programmes being implemented through the State Skill Development Corporation and their progress.
Officials informed him that Andhra Pradesh stood second, after Uttar Pradesh, in utilisation of the PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana. The meeting decided to upgrade all 192 PMKVY centres across the state. Lokesh asked officials to prepare short- and long-term action plans to achieve targets in skill development and job creation.
The minister also reviewed the utilisation of the PM Internship Scheme and directed officials to ensure that its benefits reached a large number of unemployed youth.
Officials said 5.43 lakh youngsters had so far been provided employment and livelihood opportunities under the skill development department. Andhra Pradesh had recorded a 76 per cent placement rate against the national average of 64 per cent, making it the top-performing major state in placement performance, they said.
Job fairs conducted across the state had so far helped 1.02 lakh youths secure jobs. Through the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development, Andhra Pradesh (CEDAP), 41,288 people were provided training in 2024.
Officials claimed that CEDAP had achieved a 76 per cent placement rate, placing Andhra Pradesh first among states in CEDAP-related employment performance. The state was also second among major states in providing large-scale skill training to youth.
Lokesh directed the officials to set a target of providing employment to one lakh youths every year through CEDAP. He suggested linking the Overseas Manpower Company Andhra Pradesh (OMCAP) with CEDAP to facilitate employment opportunities abroad for a larger numbers of youths.
Under the PM-SETU programme, ITIs across the state have been divided into 18 clusters. AM/NS (ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel) will serve as the industrial partner for the Visakhapatnam cluster. Lokesh directed the officials to select industrial partners for the remaining clusters at the earliest.
Principal secretary to education, skill development and training, Shyamala Rao, APSSDC managing director and CEO Ganesh Kumar and state council of higher education in-charge chairman Vijaya Bhaskar were among those present.