Maharashtra: PM Modi to launch 511 rural skill development centres

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 511 rural skill development centres in the name of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan in Maharashtra on Thursday via video conferencing.

The PMO said in a statement that these centres are being established across 34 rural districts of Maharashtra.

They will conduct skill development training programs across various sectors to provide employment opportunities to the rural youth, it said.

"Each centre will train about 100 youngsters in at least two vocational courses. The training is being provided by empanelled industry partners and agencies under National Skill Development Council," the statement added.

They will help the region make significant strides towards developing a more competent and skilled manpower, it said.

Mahajan was a leading national leader of the BJP and died at the age of 56.

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"So far there was no skill development centre in 28 thousand gram panchayats of Maharashtra. Skill development is a very important subject of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Accordingly, according to the concept of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we decided to start skill development centre in 500 (odd) gram panchayats," Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Maharashtra said Tuesday.

Minister Lodha said these skill development centres will help to prevent youth from migrating from villages to cities for employment, adding number of such centres will be increased in the future.

Meanwhile, the government has again extended restrictions on sugar exports beyond October 31 next year, a move aimed at increasing the availability of the commodity in the domestic market during the festive season.

Earlier, the restrictions were imposed until October 31 of this year.

"Restriction on export of sugar (raw sugar, white sugar, refined sugar, and organic sugar) is extended beyond October 31, 2023. Other conditions will remain unchanged," the directorate general of foreign trade (DGFT) said in a notification.

However, it said these restrictions will not be applicable to sugar being exported to the EU and the US under CXL and TRQ duty concession quotas. A specified amount of sugar is exported to these regions under CXL and TRQ (tariff rate quotas).

India is the highest producer and the second-largest exporter of sugar in the world. An exporter would require a licence or permission from the government to export sugar, which is in the restricted category. (With inputs from agencies)