‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ programme announced by Union Minister for Tourism

Ministry of Tourism (MoT), Government of India has outlined several new initiatives for the programme Hunar Se Rozgar Tak (HSR) during the 12th Five-Year Plan. This information was provided by Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister for Tourism, while addressing the meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament attached to his Ministry in New Delhi. RH Khwaja, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism and other senior officials of MoT were present in the meeting. Sahai 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. 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 courses. So far, nine states have availed the benefit of this model. In the next five ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ programme announced by Union Minister for Tourism years, MoT would make all efforts to cover the remaining states under this scheme.

Sahai further said, “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. MoT 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 liketravel and tour facilitators, home stay owners/workers, valet parking assistants, spa therapists, beauticians, bell boys, golf caddies and security personnel for hotels. “India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) under MoT has e n t e r e d i n t o M o U w i t h 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. It has been observed that provision of hostel accommodation to trainees helps in attracting youth from rural areas. 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,” Sahai added.