Chandigarh, Sep 6 (IANS): The Punjab government has directed its technical education department to rope in world-class skill development agencies to equip nearly one lakh unemployed youths in the state with latest technological skills in a phased manner.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Sunday issued directions in this regard to the Technical Education and Industrial Training Department.

Badal, who called a meeting of senior officers here on Sunday to finalise the modalities for an action plan on skilling, said that skills could be imparted in health care and paramedics, driving and automotives, animal husbandry and allied farming and construction activity.

He said that the best skill training and placement agencies should be engaged for five upcoming Multi-Skill Development Centres (MSDCs) at Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Hoshiarpur and Patiala with a total intake capacity of 7,500 trainees. These MSDCs would be made functional from April next year.

"These MSDCs would offer new skill training courses in light engineering, hand tools, garment and fashion technology and welding to suit the needs of the local industry," Badal said.