Need to upgrade on skills, says Parrikar

Union Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said that even as investment into the country is growing, jobs along with specialised skills have taken a backseat.

Addressing delegates at the inauguration of Centum Avanza at the Devanahalli-based aerospace park near here, Parrikar said, “While investment into India is on the rise, employment and skills have fallen behind.” The minister said that the country’s education seldom provides the actual aptitude needed in the industry, which would otherwise unleash the right kind of skills into the economy.

Pvt sector opportunity
Earlier in the day, batting for Karnataka as a major aerospace hub, the state’s Industries Minister R V Deshpande said, “We produce 65% of the country’s output in aerospace, wherein there is a great opportunity for the private sector to participate, apart from job creation.”

He called for industry support in order to make the said aerospace park the best in the world, seeking more investments.

Meanwhile, Centum Electronics’ 150,000-sq feet Avanza facility is spread over six acres, with investments towards it, including in upgradation of lines and technology, at Rs 200 crore over two years.   

According to Centum Electronics Chairman and Managing Director Apparao Mallavarapu, “The facility, which provides full-time employment to nearly 750 people, will integrate design, manufacturing, factory-testing, quality control and advanced manufacturing engineering for our defence automation business in India and abroad.”  
DH News Service