Unemployed youth seeking a job in the hospitality sector can look forward to bright days ahead.

The Vijayawada division of Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) will soon induct 1500-odd unemployed youngsters in the 18-28 age group for training followed by their placement under the unique ‘Hunar Se Rozgar Tak’ (HSRT) (From Skill to Employment) scheme, a special initiative launched by the Ministry of Tourism.

It’s a Central Government-funded training programme imparted to the beneficiaries for a short span of six to eight weeks and no fee is charged for it. The initiative is part of the

Ministry of Tourism’s scheme namely Capacity Building for Service Providers (CBSP) and has been introduced mainly to increase skilled manpower in hospitality sector. A five-member team of the Tourism Corporation’s divisional managers from five southern states, including J. Raghupathi Rao, the Corporation’s Vijayawada Division Manager, is undergoing a three-day training sessions at the Bangalore Institute of Hotel Management’s Executive Development Centre.

“We will seek local NGOs’ help to identify 1500-odd eligible youth for training programme which will commence in the next 20 days,” J. Raghupathi Rao, APTDC’s Vijayawada Divisional Manager, told The Hindu on Monday.

The scheme, launched in 2009-10 in some of the northern States, is being implemented through expert institutions like the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Institutes of Hotel Management, Food Craft Institutes and India Tourism Development Corporation.

The State governments have been given the liberty to implement the programme through institutes selected by them.

Success

Considering its success and acceptability, it has been decided to expand it in terms of number of beneficiaries as well as the courses being offered. Earlier, the programme offered training courses only in food and beverage service and food production.

Three more courses of housekeeping, bakery and a composite multi-skilled course in Food Production and F&B service were introduced at a later stage.

“The programme will be implemented in all the tourism divisions of Andhra Pradesh from January,” said Mr. Raghupathi Rao.

Referring to the developments of APTDC properties in and around Vijayawada city, Mr. Rao said plans are afoot to give the picturesque Bhavani Island a facelift.

“More adventure sports, both water and ground sports, such as zorbing and electronic games, would soon be introduced to attract tourists,” said Mr. Rao.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by P. Sujatha Varma / December 18th, 2012