As a step towards closing in the estimated manpower crunch of 1.41 lakh trained personnel in the hospitality industry in next three years, the Karnataka Tourism Department launched a free, certificate course at the Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore and will set up two new institutes for training in Hotel Management in Dharwad and Hassan in the months to come.
The programme was launched in association with the Government of Karnataka and Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore.
These courses which will be held in the evening was inaugurated on Monday by Tourism Secretary I M Vittalamurthy, for students of Karnataka. The tuition fee is free and students can earn a stipend of Rs 3,500 every month during the course. Also, Rs 96 lakhs has been earmarked  for the course this year, which will admit 200 students every year, to be trained in Front Office, Food Production, Food and Beverage Service and Housekeeping.
“The course will help those who want to join at the entry- level as it has more inputs and job specific” said the Director of the Institute MV Balachander. A committee including the Tourism Secretary and the Director of IHM will be on board a panel for student selection. There will be reservation for SC/ST students according to the reservation policy of the State government.
New institutes
Mr Vittalamurthy on the occasion announced that the Government of India has sanctioned Rs 9.34 crores towards starting of Food Craft Institutes in Dharwad and Hassan (at Halebid). While these institutes will not be restricted to students of Karnataka, it will be a daytime intensive course also lasting three to six months.
The Institute at Halebid will be housed in the unused tourism building, while a suitable location will be found in Dharwad. Both institutes together will churn out 2,800 trained students every year.

ELIGIBILITY
*Cookery (3 months): SSLC pass,  minimum 40% and minimum 35% for SC/ST candidates.
*Waiters/receptionists( 2 months) PUC pass, minimum 50 marks and 40% for SC/ST candidates
*Housekeeping (2 months): SSLC pass, minimum 40 marks and minimum 35 marks for SC ST candidates.
*All courses require a minimum study duration of  5 years in Karnataka, including the qualifying exam.