Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): In a decisive move to curb youth unemployment and bolster vocational capabilities, Haryana Minister of State for Sports, Youth Empowerment, and Entrepreneurship, Gaurav Gautam, declared that integrating the state’s youth with sustainable employment and modern skill sets remains the topmost priority of the government. Presiding over a high-level review meeting at Kaushal Bhawan in Panchkula, the Minister directed officials from the Employment Department to organize comprehensive employment fairs on a mandatory monthly basis. These regular recruitment drives are intended to bridge the gap between corporate requirements and regional talent, ensuring that young job seekers receive immediate placement opportunities aligned specifically with their academic and technical qualifications.
The strategic review session involved top administrative authorities from the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam (HKRN), the Employment Department, the Haryana Skill Development Mission (HSDM), and Shri Vishwakarma Skill University located at Dudhola in Palwal. Recognizing the rapid evolution of the global industrial landscape, Minister Gautam instructed university officials to swiftly introduce advanced, industry-relevant curricula, with a specific focus on launching specialized courses in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and non-conventional energy sources. To support this pedagogical shift, he ordered an extensive upgrade of machinery and learning modules across all government Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), emphasizing that the timely maintenance of these campus facilities and the opening of new specialized skill development centres must be fast-tracked.
A major focus of the meeting was the absolute compliance and execution of state financial plans. The Minister issued a strict ultimatum regarding the implementation of the Chief Minister’s budget announcements spanning the consecutive fiscal years of 2024-25, 2025-26, and 2026-27, mandating that every single project roadmap be realized within its predefined timeline. Gautam explicitly warned against fiscal mismanagement, ordering departments to monitor their quarterly expenditures diligently to prevent any allocated development budgets from lapsing. He clarified that any unvalidated delays or administrative negligence regarding public welfare schemes would invite immediate, severe disciplinary action against the responsible bureaucrats.
To drive grassroots social participation and community development, the Minister ordered the state-wide formation of local Youth Clubs. These clubs will serve as dynamic platforms to mobilize and organize the state’s younger demographic, empowering them to actively distribute information regarding government welfare schemes to the most marginalized sections of society. Furthermore, Gautam reviewed the ground implementation of the central government’s ‘PM Setu Yojana’, demanding absolute dedication from all departmental wings. Concluding the session, the Minister announced that he would personally chair a follow-up accountability meeting in exactly forty-five days to scrutinize comprehensive ground progress reports for every single project discussed. The high-level meeting was attended by Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Principal Secretary Rajiv Ranjan, Haryana Skill Development Mission Managing Director Rajesh Goyal, and Director of Skill Corporation and Industrial Training Sitender Doohan, among other senior dignitaries.
