Over 2.5k get jobs in mega fair

Lucknow: Over 2,500 youth from different parts of the state received job offers at the mega job fair organised by the UP skill development mission (UPSDM). The fair saw participation of 8,700 candidates who were got an opportunity with 116 companies, including Tata, Hero, Swiggy, Flipkart, along with firms from logistics and healthcare sectors.Of the 2,527 youths who were employed in various companies, 2,033 were men and 494 women, with 56 candidates belonging to families under the ‘Zero Poverty Campaign' also getting job offers. Selected candidates were offered salary packages up to Rs 40,000 per month. During the fair, minister Kapil Dev Agarwal launched three digital platforms to modernise the skill development ecosystem. The first was ‘Kaushal Drishti', a real-time monitoring mobile application for skill development training centres. Through this app, information related to trainee attendance, infrastructure of training centres and quality of training will be available instantly. The second, ‘Kaushal Darpan', is an AI-based dashboard providing integrated skill development information related to skill development. It includes a digital map of UP, total population, number of active training providers, and an overview of major employment-oriented sectors. The third app launched was ‘Kaushal Dost', is a 24/7 chatbot offering assistance on training programmes, govt schemes and employment opportunities.Addressing the youth, Agarwal said, "Success comes not only from degrees but from skills, confidence and effective communication ability." He advised the candidates not to be hesitant and to be confident in their capabilities. Reiterating the govt's mission of making youth job creators and entrepreneurs and not merely job seekers, Agarwal stressed that youth are being trained in advanced sectors such as robotics, drones, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, solar energy and electric vehicles to prepare them for the changing demands of industries. Principal secretary, department of vocational education, skill development and entrepreneurship, Hariom said that the state has 350 industrial training institutes (ITIs). Another 30 ITIs are under construction. These ITIs are imparting quality training with modern technology. Director, UPSDM, Pulkit Khare said that a QR code-based system has been implemented for digital registration at the employment fair, providing relief to candidates from long queues. The next two job fairs are slated in Jhansi on Mar 24 and Varanasi on Mar 25.