Lalgudi : Skill Development Centre was inaugurated recently at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University – Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute at Kumulur village near Lalgudi in the district.
R. Duraikannu, Minister for Agriculture, who declared open the centre, said it would impart training to the rural youth on repair and maintenance of farm machinery, implements, tractors and agricultural motors. Farmers suffered a lot whenever their agricultural machinery developed some snag or other and realizing their need, the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa made an announcement on the floor of the Assembly under Rule 110, he said, adding that the state government was more interested in providing all amenities and services to farmers. It has been planned to train at least 10,000 youth in the next one decade, he said.
Vellamandi N. Natarajan, Minister for Tourism and S. Valarmathi, Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare, said the training would also generate employment to the youth in rural areas and thereby check their exodus.
S.Nagoor Ali Jinnah, Chief General Manager of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chennai, said that his bank, in coordination with the state government, has planned to restore the conventional ‘kudimaramathu’ scheme for the periodical maintenance of water bodies in rural areas.
The bank would sanction Rs.500 crore towards the project. Emphasizing the prospects of skill development centre, he said NABARD had released Rs.6.35 lakh for training courses for repair and overhauling of farm engines, tractors and farm equipment. K. Ramaswamy, Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. K. S. Palanisamy, District Collector and K. Ramaswamy, Dean of the Institute, spoke.
Earlier, Mr. Duraikannu released guides on the training programme and the first copy was received by Mr. Natarajan.
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