PORVORIM: Non functioning craftsmen training centers came under severe attack and became a cause for extreme discomfort of Chief Minster Parsekar and Craftsmen Training Minister Deepak Dhavlikar who piquantly doesn’t have craftsmen training under his purview
Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has charged the State government with working against the Prime Minister’s National Skill Development Program by abruptly shutting down nearly 90 percent training-cum-production centers in the recent past.
“On one hand, the PM has been talking about the Skill India Program but in Goa, out of 300 centres, only 30 are functioning, which means 90 percent are shut down,” he told the House while tabling the postponed starred question on craftsman training on Thursday.
As he pointed out, abrupt moves of the government to close down the skill development programs, he further questioned the government’s wisdom for allegedly illegally creating handicrafts, textile and coir department that has seen five directors so far.
“The craftsman training institute includes ITI and training-cum-production centres. The second centre being an integral part of the PM’s national program has been put into a new department called Handicrafts, Textile & Coir,” he said adding, “The department was created though it has no assessment of the ARD, concurrence of finance department nor was any cabinet decision was taken.”
State Craftsman Training Minister, Deepak Dhavalikar who stood up to respond to the question clarified the answer was not within the purview of his department as it has been transferred to another department, under another minister. “I can give you the number of ITI centers, number of instructors and the trainees but I don’t have details of the other centers because it is not under my purview,” he said replying to the Fatorda MLA’s starred question.
Sardesai continued pointing out irregularities as he alleged that the post of director under the new portfolio was just-recently created even as ‘directors changed five times before.’ “As per my inquiry, the portfolio (new department) was created when the craftsman training director closed down one centre, which was run in the house of one OSD to the minister. The OSD’s wife ran the centre,” he alleged.
