Vijayawada: IT Minister Nara Lokesh highlighted the importance of leveraging the ongoing skill census to create job opportunities for unemployed youth. Chairing a review meeting on the skill census and skill development initiatives at his residence in Undavalli recently, Lokesh called for expediting the pre-assessment process, noting that the census would be ineffective without it.
The minister recommended integrating youth qualification certificates with the census to enhance employability. Officials briefed Lokesh on Infosys’ commitment to conducting the basic assessment and introduced a self-enumeration app for individuals unable to participate in the census.
Lokesh directed officials to analyze the data swiftly, encouraging collaboration with industries and platforms like LinkedIn, Naukri.com, and JobX to facilitate recruitment. He also proposed linking data from PF, ESI, and GST records to ensure accuracy.
IBM and Microsoft have partnered to provide skill training at Centres of Excellence through a train-and-hire model. Lokesh suggested establishing a Centre of Excellence in Amaravati with the National Academy of Construction (NACC) to train construction workers, noting discussions with L&T on construction sector training.
Highlighting overseas job demand, Lokesh recommended preparing nursing students for roles in Germany and advancing plans to establish a skill university in Amaravati.
Senior officials, including Principal Secretary S Suresh Kumar and Skill Development Corporation MD G Ganesh Kumar, attended the meeting.
