RAMANATHAPURAM
Expressing concern over growing unemployment problem, actor and founder leader of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Kamal Haassan has called for a movement to take forward skill development training programmes to younger generation on the lines of Satyagraha, launched by Mahatma Gandhi for India’s independence.
Addressing after unveiling the bust of his father D. Seenivasan, whose death anniversary coincided with his 65th birthday, and launching a Skill Development Training Centre at Thelichathanallur near Paramakudi on Thursday, he said offering skills to scores of educated unemployed youth and making them employable alone would help address unemployment problem.
“After Satyagraha struggle, India should take a plunge and launch a full-fledged struggle for offering skill development to the unemployed youth,” he said. While some of the States like Rajasthan had taken a lead in offering skills to the youth, Tamil Nadu was lagging behind, he said.
Universities alone could not address unemployment problem, he said, adding there was a huge demand for skilled labour in the country and it was high time to establish skill development training centres at all places, he said.
Referring to women, who were against sending their sons to join the army fearing that they might be killed in war, Mr. Kamal said they should not forget the fact that those killed in road accidents were 100% more than those killed in wars. The unemployed youth should develop their skills and grab opportunities, instead of waiting for a job of their choice, he said.
Before entering the film industry, he had even worked in a saloon for one and a half months, he said, adding the experience later helped him learn many skills.
It was a matter of regret that many of those who passed out of colleges and universities were not employable and many of those who went to schools dropped out at different stages.
Skill development training centres would be a boon to these dropouts and unemployed. After developing the skills of their choice, they could also emerge as entrepreneurs, he said.
‘Annan Chandrahasan Charitable Trust’ would run the skill development training centre here and it would start functioning from February next year. The trust entered into a memorandum of understanding with a private institution, Centurion University, for offering skills. “This is our family’s gift to the youth in the region,” he added.
