THE MARUTI Udyog Limited (MUL) and Gujarat Tribal Development Department (TDD) signed an MoU for setting up of a Gujarat Regional Automobile Training Institute (GUJARATI) during a Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana programme at Dharikheda village in Nanod taluka of Narmada district on Tuesday. The programme was attended by Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The estimated cost of the institute, which would impart driving and technical training in automobiles, would be Rs 16 crore. According to MUL authorities, the project would be complete in one year’s time.
Speaking about Maruti Udyog Limited’s first joint venture with the Gujarat Government, MUL Managing Director Jagdish Khattar said that the project would be special because the State Government would rope in tribals for the project.
For tribal youths from State, MUL will help 60 per cent trainees gain employment, he said.
At present, the Maruti Udyog Limited has around 23 training centres across India.
It is planning to open some more in Haryana, Bihar, Chhattigarh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh. “We will seek similar support from governments of other states,” he added.
Outlining the joint venture, TDD Secretary A M Tiwari said the centre would come up at Gajadra village in Waghodia taluka of Vadodara district.
Under the Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana’s ten-point programme, the State Government intends to employ five lakh tribal youths. The Gujarat Regional Automobile Training Institute would help 12,000 tribal youths gain employment.
“The cost of training of 80 per cent youths from STs would be borne by the TDD,” he added.
MUL plans to jack up car exports
VADODARA: MUL MD Jagdish Khattar also unveiled plans to increase exports of car models. At present around 18,000 cars are being exported, he said adding that the export is expected to increase by 52,000 cars in countries such as Algeria, Egypt and Chile. MUL also plans to launch a new model in Nepal and Sri Lanka, he said. “There are around 10 per cent MUL models that have LPG cylinders. If demand increases, we may increase our production,” he added.
Congressmen detained
Congress leaders and workers were detained by police while trying to take out a protest rally against Vanbandhu Kalyan Yojana rally addressed by Chief Minister Narendra Modi at Dharikheda. They carried black flags during the rally from Dharikheda to the Venue of the programme. Speaking to this newspaper, a former Congress MLA from Narmada said: “We need an account of the State government’s claims of it having spent Rs 15,000 crore on the scheme.’’