Unemployed youth getting hospitality management training in Jhargram

Kolkata: Jhargram district administration has taken up a unique scheme to train unemployed youth in hotel and hospitality management.

The first batch of 28 youths are being given training at Gopiballavpur Block II. The training is provided by Nabajyoti Education Society. The Self-Help Group and Self Employment department has prepared the scheme under Muktidhara.

A senior state government official said the trainees will be given both practical and theoretical training. The duration of training is one month and it is free of cost. As the programme has earned huge success, more unemployed youths will be given training in future.

The youths are given training on the preparation of various dishes. They have been taught about table decoration and how to behave with the clients. The students are picking up well and as most of them are interested in cooking, they are showing great interest in the preparation of different dishes.

Jhargram district has become a major tourist hub in south Bengal. The area, which was a part of West Midnapore district, became infamous for Maoist activities during the Left Front regime. Several Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR) jawans had been killed in Maoist-led ambushes. The schools were converted into camps of the jawans and studies had been badly hit.

After coming to power in 2011, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started visiting the area and took up several development schemes. Communication improved, several bridges were built and super-speciality hospitals and colleges were set up. The district is going to get a university in near future as well.

With the improvement in infrastructure, Jhargram is fast coming up as a tourist hub. Several hotels and lodges have come up. Jhargram Rajbari has also been upgraded.

The district administration is also giving a thrust on home stay. During winter, getting an accommodation in the hotels and lodges is a major problem.

The official said it is expected that those who are receiving training in hotel and hospitality management, will be absorbed by the hotels and lodges.

"People are now coming to Jhargram and are going to Bankura and Purulia from here. There is ample scope of tourism and the youths will be absorbed by the hotels," he said.