To tackle the shortage of skilled labour,the Centre has proposed to start 1,500 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country in the 12th Five Year Plan,Union Labour and Employment Minister,Mallikarjuna Kharge said. Youths with a minimum qualification would be trained in these institutes,so that the requirements of different sectors could be met,Kharge said. Similarly,the Government has also proposed to start 5,000 skill development councils,concentrating in rural areas,the minister said. Later,inaugurating the 118th Annual Conference of United Planters Association of Southern India (UPASI),Kharge attributed the labour shortage in agriculture sector to the transition of economy from agriculture to industry. "The new generation of farmers or agricultural labourers are not interested in working in agricultural sector and want to do skilled or technical jobs,reflecting in further shortage," the minister said. Another major problem was the outsourcing of labourers,for whom "very less wages" was paid by the contractors,who quote "huge money," he said. As far as the Plantation Labour Act of 1951 was concerned,though it was amended in 2010,it did not find favour with the management,workers or trade unions,Kharge said and asked the stakeholders to come out with suggestions so that there could be a solution. As a minister,he could not support only one side in the issue,be it the managements or the labourers,Kharge said. "It is the responsibility of Government,management and workers to create a good environment in any sector," he said.
