Cong cubs bat for country cousins
The young MPs have sought the creation of at least 2.5 lakh ITIs and polytechnics in various parts of the country in the next 2-3 years.
By Mayur Shekhar Jha, TNN |
GURGAON: THEY are young, suave urbanites, but their hearts seem to beat for rural India. A delegation of young Congress MPs met finance minister P Chidambaram to offer pre-Budget suggestions. The delegation comprised Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sandeep Dikshit, Deepender Hooda and Narayan Swamy. Mr Hooda shared the highlights of the discussion with ET.
“Most suggestions concern key issues like employability of the Indian youth today, particularly in rural India. Education remained the focal point of discussions,” Mr Hooda said, adding, “we are of the view that at least 6% of the budgetary allocation should be dedicated to education”.
Discussions also took place on vocational training. “With the kind of economic boom we are witnessing, there is absolutely no dearth of jobs. However, the prevailing education system in India does not do much to make our youth employable. There needs to be a greater emphasis on ITIs,” Mr Hooda said.
The young MPs have sought the creation of at least 2.5 lakh ITIs and polytechnics in various parts of the country in the next 2-3 years. “Even this will not suffice, though it would obviously be a good start. China already has over 6 lakh vocational training centres,” he added.
Mr Hooda attributed the slowdown in education system to lack of quality teachers in the country. “We have also suggested the creation of at least one national-level institute for teachers’ training in every state. These institutes should ideally be at par with IITs and IIMs,” he said.
The Indiana University-educated MP is also lobbying for a grant of Rs 100 crore for Haryana Agriculture University. This is aimed at creating employment opportunities in the booming agriculture sector in the state, which has seen a splurge of investments from corporate biggies, including Bharti and Reliance. “We are hopeful of getting a substantial amount as budgetary grant from the finance ministry. The remaining amount could be raised through private participation,” Mr Hooda added.
“Most suggestions concern key issues like employability of the Indian youth today, particularly in rural India. Education remained the focal point of discussions,” Mr Hooda said, adding, “we are of the view that at least 6% of the budgetary allocation should be dedicated to education”.
Discussions also took place on vocational training. “With the kind of economic boom we are witnessing, there is absolutely no dearth of jobs. However, the prevailing education system in India does not do much to make our youth employable. There needs to be a greater emphasis on ITIs,” Mr Hooda said.
The young MPs have sought the creation of at least 2.5 lakh ITIs and polytechnics in various parts of the country in the next 2-3 years. “Even this will not suffice, though it would obviously be a good start. China already has over 6 lakh vocational training centres,” he added.
Mr Hooda attributed the slowdown in education system to lack of quality teachers in the country. “We have also suggested the creation of at least one national-level institute for teachers’ training in every state. These institutes should ideally be at par with IITs and IIMs,” he said.
The Indiana University-educated MP is also lobbying for a grant of Rs 100 crore for Haryana Agriculture University. This is aimed at creating employment opportunities in the booming agriculture sector in the state, which has seen a splurge of investments from corporate biggies, including Bharti and Reliance. “We are hopeful of getting a substantial amount as budgetary grant from the finance ministry. The remaining amount could be raised through private participation,” Mr Hooda added.
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