Tourism Minister Announces New Initiatives for Hunar Se Rozgar Tak Programme.-Consultative Committee Attached to Ministry of Tourism Meets Union Tourism Minister, Shri Subodh Kant Sahai has outlined several new initiatives for the programme Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSR) during the 12th Five-Year Plan. This was announced by the Minister while addressing the meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to his Ministry here last evening. He said a decision has been taken to make it an umbrella scheme to cover all segments of tourism requiring training and a skill development of the connected service providers. Shri Sahai said there is an urgent need to develop synergy and involve private sector hospitality and tourism institutes, other Government control institutes (universities, colleges etc.) for running the short duration HSR courses. So far nine states have availed the benefit of this model. In the next five years, the Ministry of Tourism would make all efforts to cover the remaining states under this scheme.
Shri Subodh Kant informed the Members that initially the scheme was to provide training only for food production and food and beverage services. Later trades like – housekeeping and bakery, driving skills, heritage conservation and stone masonry were also introduced. He said that his Ministry will also expand the scope to cover niche products like- Rural Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Eco Tourism, Caravan Tourism and Golf Tourism etc. It is proposed to provide training in new sectors like- Travel and Tour Facilitators, Home Stay owners/workers, Valet Parking Assistants, Spa therapists, Beauticians, Bell boys, Golf Caddies and Security Personnel for Hotels.
Shri Sahai said that India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Ministry of Tourism has entered into MoU with Infrastructure Leasing and Financing Services (IL&FS). The IL&FS will develop essential backward and forward linkages for providing training as-well-as placement to the trained personnel. The Minister said that it has been observed that provision of hostel accommodation to trainees helps in attracting youth from rural areas. He said it is proposed that the new institutes of hotel management and food-craft institutes will have provision of hostel/dormitory for the outstation trainees. Furthermore, the scheme is proposed to be modified to provide for temporary hostel accommodation by the implementing institutes, till the time regular hostel accommodation facilities are developed.
The Union Tourism Minister said that his Ministry is also working to collaborate with other ministries and agencies of Govt. of India to bring synergy of efforts to meet the skill development challenge. He said under a collaborative programme with the Ministry of Rural Development the State institutes of Rural Development and District Institutes of Rural Development will be provided central financial assistance of Rs. 2 crore each under the broad basing scheme to start new hospitality courses. This intervention would provide an opportunity to the youth of the BPL families to get skill training in various trades related to tourism and hospitality. Shri Sahai said under another similar arrangement with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, the institutes of hotel management will coordinate with the urban local bodies/ State Governments to provide skill development training to urban youths of BPL families .
In his concluding remarks Shri Sahai said HSR has emerged as one of the flagship schemes of his Ministry. He said the scheme would be contributing significantly in meeting the skill development challenge in years to come. The full potential of this initiative can be realised by developing a synergistic convergence at the Central and State/UT level, the Minister added.
Completing the Ministry for launching the Honar Se Rozgar Tak programme the Members of Parliament made various suggestions for improvement in the programme. There was a suggestion for opening more training centres in the country for this programme. Some Members were of the view that Ministry of Tourism should take up the issue of relaxation in Forest Conservation Act with the Ministry of Environment and Forests for tourism related activities. One Member suggested that Tourism Minister should visit various States to promote Hunar Se Rozgar Tak programme. The issue of shortage of trained guides and inculcating a sense of discipline amongst them was also raised by the Members. There was a suggestion for more concessions for budget hotels. A Member suggested development of more tourist circuits’ in Rajasthan. Another Member suggested that Ministry should promote cruise tourism in Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep and other areas of the country
In his concluding remarks the Minister of State for Tourism Shri Sultan Ahmed thanked the Members for their valuable suggestions and assured them that Ministry will look into it with all sincerity.
Secretary Tourism Shri RH Khwaja and other senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism were also present in the meeting. The Members of Parliament who participated in the meeting include:- Dr. Charles Dias, Shri Khiladi Lal Bairwa Shri P.C. Gaddigoudar, Shri P.T Thomas, Shri Sripad Yesso Naik and Shri Virender Kashyap (Lok Sabha) and Shri Kishore Kumar Mohanty, Shri S. Thangavelu and Shri Ranbir Singh Prajapati ( Rajya Sabha).
Shri Subodh Kant informed the Members that initially the scheme was to provide training only for food production and food and beverage services. Later trades like – housekeeping and bakery, driving skills, heritage conservation and stone masonry were also introduced. He said that his Ministry will also expand the scope to cover niche products like- Rural Tourism, Adventure Tourism, Wellness Tourism, Eco Tourism, Caravan Tourism and Golf Tourism etc. It is proposed to provide training in new sectors like- Travel and Tour Facilitators, Home Stay owners/workers, Valet Parking Assistants, Spa therapists, Beauticians, Bell boys, Golf Caddies and Security Personnel for Hotels.
Shri Sahai said that India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under the Ministry of Tourism has entered into MoU with Infrastructure Leasing and Financing Services (IL&FS). The IL&FS will develop essential backward and forward linkages for providing training as-well-as placement to the trained personnel. The Minister said that it has been observed that provision of hostel accommodation to trainees helps in attracting youth from rural areas. He said it is proposed that the new institutes of hotel management and food-craft institutes will have provision of hostel/dormitory for the outstation trainees. Furthermore, the scheme is proposed to be modified to provide for temporary hostel accommodation by the implementing institutes, till the time regular hostel accommodation facilities are developed.
The Union Tourism Minister said that his Ministry is also working to collaborate with other ministries and agencies of Govt. of India to bring synergy of efforts to meet the skill development challenge. He said under a collaborative programme with the Ministry of Rural Development the State institutes of Rural Development and District Institutes of Rural Development will be provided central financial assistance of Rs. 2 crore each under the broad basing scheme to start new hospitality courses. This intervention would provide an opportunity to the youth of the BPL families to get skill training in various trades related to tourism and hospitality. Shri Sahai said under another similar arrangement with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, the institutes of hotel management will coordinate with the urban local bodies/ State Governments to provide skill development training to urban youths of BPL families .
In his concluding remarks Shri Sahai said HSR has emerged as one of the flagship schemes of his Ministry. He said the scheme would be contributing significantly in meeting the skill development challenge in years to come. The full potential of this initiative can be realised by developing a synergistic convergence at the Central and State/UT level, the Minister added.
Completing the Ministry for launching the Honar Se Rozgar Tak programme the Members of Parliament made various suggestions for improvement in the programme. There was a suggestion for opening more training centres in the country for this programme. Some Members were of the view that Ministry of Tourism should take up the issue of relaxation in Forest Conservation Act with the Ministry of Environment and Forests for tourism related activities. One Member suggested that Tourism Minister should visit various States to promote Hunar Se Rozgar Tak programme. The issue of shortage of trained guides and inculcating a sense of discipline amongst them was also raised by the Members. There was a suggestion for more concessions for budget hotels. A Member suggested development of more tourist circuits’ in Rajasthan. Another Member suggested that Ministry should promote cruise tourism in Goa, Kerala, Lakshadweep and other areas of the country
In his concluding remarks the Minister of State for Tourism Shri Sultan Ahmed thanked the Members for their valuable suggestions and assured them that Ministry will look into it with all sincerity.
Secretary Tourism Shri RH Khwaja and other senior officials of the Ministry of Tourism were also present in the meeting. The Members of Parliament who participated in the meeting include:- Dr. Charles Dias, Shri Khiladi Lal Bairwa Shri P.C. Gaddigoudar, Shri P.T Thomas, Shri Sripad Yesso Naik and Shri Virender Kashyap (Lok Sabha) and Shri Kishore Kumar Mohanty, Shri S. Thangavelu and Shri Ranbir Singh Prajapati ( Rajya Sabha).
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