Chennai, Jan 19 (IANS): Tamil Nadu will set up soft skill centres in 30 colleges affiliated to five universities and incubation and technology transfer centres in nine universities in the state, a statement from the government said.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has ordered the setting up of the soft skill and incubation and technology transfer centres, according to the statement issued by the state government Saturday.

It said the skill sets of students have to be upgraded in line with job opportunities in information technology (IT) and human resource development (HRD) sectors.

In the first phase, soft skill centres will be set up in 30 colleges affiliated to five universities -- Madras University, Thiruvalluvar University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Bharathiar University and Bharathidasan University.

The total outlay for these centres is estimated at Rs.13.5 million.

To increase the interaction between the community and the educational institutions, the government will set up incubation and technology transfer centres in Madras University, Alagappa University, Periyar University, Mother Teresa Women's University, Thiruvalluvar University, Madurai Kamaraj University, Bharathiar University, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University and Bharathidasan University.

Each centre will be set up at an outlay of around Rs.2.9 million, the statement said.