Karnataka: Govt to set up youth empowerment centres in educational institutions

BENGALURU: To spread awareness on job opportunities, the state government will set up youth empowerment centres, named after Swami Vivekananda, in all schools and colleges in the state.
The formal launch of the centres has been scheduled for January 12, the birth anniversary of saint-philosopher Swami Vivekananda at the Kanteerava Stadium, where 10,000 people are likely to participate.
“In Karnataka’s formal job market, there is more demand than supply for skilled human resources,” deputy CM and higher education minister CN Ashwath Narayan said on Friday. “There are 5.7 lakh job opportunities as against 5.5 lakh students who pass out from degree colleges. Youth empowerment centres will help bridge this gap.”
The centres, to be set up in all leading government first grade colleges across the state, will disseminate information on job vacancies, opportunities in higher education, scholarships available, educational loans, hostel facilities and employability related issues. Each centre will be assigned resource persons, who will guide students, the DCM said. He went on to say the government plans to open such centres in all schools, to ensure students are groomed on issues of education and employment from Class 8 itself.
At the district-level, these centres will function under the guidance of a committee headed by the deputy commissioner of the district. It will also include senior officers from 21 government departments.
“The higher education department will take the lead. The CM will inaugurate the Bengaluru centre on January 12 during Vivekananda Jayanti celebrations and district centres will be inaugurated on the same day in all districts,” Narayan said.
Free laptops
The government will also distribute free laptops to government first year degree college students in Bengaluru and the district headquarters. “In all, over one lakh government degree college students will be given laptops free of charge in a phased manner. The government has set aside Rs 300 crore for this in the budget,” Narayana said. The free laptop scheme was launched by the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government in 2014.