NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Sh. Vijay Kumar Dev, IAS, Adviser to the Administrator, Chandigarh today said that no city can be a smart city until an inclusive approach is adopted specially through youth power. He emphasized the importance of skilling the students for creating new job opportunities in today’s competitive environment.

He was addressing students in the celebrations of International Youth Day, organized at Girls College, sector 42, Chandigarh here today. He was chief guest in the function. He said that the youth day could not have been better under the NULM outcome demonstrated by the enthusiastic beneficiaries came from villages, colonies and slums of the city. He commended the efforts of the urban poverty alleviation cell, MC Chandigarh and NGOs alongwith academies in providing the skill training opportunities to the urban poor youth to enable them join the main stream and be productive assets of the society.

He further said that such programmes play a big role to promote urban poor youth’s effective inclusive civic engagement. He said that Chandigarh is the best city to implement all kind of beneficiary schemes under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) project.

Mrs. Poonam Sharma, Mayor of Chandigarh said that for upliftment of the BPL and the under-privileged group the Municipal Corporation has increased the budget as per requirement. She informed that many of the beneficiaries from very poor rural background were able to change the course of their career, earn a respectable livelihood and sustain their families after completing the skill training courses in various trades. She said that the future course of action includes the institutionalization of the Alumni Association

While addressing the students, Mrs. Bhawna Garg, IAS, Commissioner, Municipal Corporation shared the major outcome of the industry oriented skill trades training, challenges & Limitations apart from the suggestions for effective outcome of the future project to Sustain Livelihood linkage – Step towards poverty alleviation.

She informed that in the upcoming time, Municipal Corporation is looking to take these skill training programmes to newer heights by taking them to various others institutions. She also mentioned that the MC has planned to organize first consultation on identification of skill sets in diverse areas based on market needs and assessment of employment and entrepreneur potential in the region with support from PHD Chamber, CII and other professional associations.

Mr Vivek Trivedi, Social Development Officer, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh informed during the function about the scheme including the project highlights for 4 years. He informed that over 59% of the passed out beneficiaries are employed and contribute proudly in the family income.

The celebration was organized by State Urban Poverty Alleviation (SUPA), Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh jointly with BTGT, NIIT Yuva Jyoti, RCED, RGNIYD, SWERA, SEBIZ, CDCL, Vatsal Chaya, VLCC, GITIW. Over 750 past and present beneficiaries participated in the event today to celebrate the International Youth Day with the theme of Youth Civic Engagement.