Training for garden dwellers

TT, Jalpaiguri: The district administration will soon launch a skill development training programme for unemployed people residing in the tea gardens of Jalpaiguri to help them find an alternative employment opportunity.

The training would be carried out under the state's Utkarsh Bangla scheme and the administration has initiated online registration process for the programme.

Some of the fields in which training would be provided include driving, interior decoration, nursing, tailoring, carpentry, construction work, electrical works and public relations.

Shilpa Gourisaria, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, said: "Initially, we plan to train around 800 unemployed people, most of whom are youths. For them, the process of online registration has started from December 1. Around 22 different departments and Industrial Training Institutes will provide them training in dif- Unemployed people during a session in Jalpaiguri. File picture ferent fields." A source at the administra- tion said the training would begin after the registration process completes. "In recent years, employment opportuni- ties in the tea estates have virtually dried up. Also, a section of youths do not want to work in the gardens. However, in many cases, they find it tough to get a job due to lack of training. That is why it has been decided to provide them training and also help with employment opportunities." There are around 6 lakh unemployed people in the tea gardens of Jalpaiguri.

Observers said the decision is yet another move to consolidate support for Trinamul in the tea belt before the polls..