28 January,2011 11:30 AM IST | | Sanjeev Devasia
South Mumbai MP Milind Deora speaks about empowering youth with vocational skills and employment to make a prosperous nation
The country is headed for a "Kangaroo" court-like system because of the "cumbersome" judicial system, South Mumbai MP Milind Deora said yesterday, referring to the attacks on Additional Collector Yashwant Sonawane and Aarushi's father Rajesh Talwar.
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He spoke his heart and mind on issues such as the initiatives in his constituency and empowering youth.
MP Milind Deora feels the city is in dire need of more infrastructure projects
Excerpts:
On his initiatives in his constituency...
Though it doesn't come under the ambit of constitutional duties as an MP, I've started a computerisation project in state-aided schools in my constituency. We have selected the poorest of schools and set up computer laboratories in as many as 100 of them. Information Technology (IT) may not be part of their syllabus, but I want the children to know the basics of IT. We just asked the school authorities for a room and provided them with necessary hardware free of cost.
On the Peddar Road flyover project...
Emotions shouldn't dictate infrastructure projects but long-term planning by the state government should take place in a transparent manner.
On amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules...
I would like to take credit for urging Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh to take a look at the CRZ rules, which affected thousands of buildings in my constituency. These houses can now be redeveloped.
On recommendations and jobs for youth...
People come to me asking for jobs. I write a letter or call up the people concerned to recommend jobs. But in 90 per cent of the cases, the candidates don't get a job. So I thought it was prudent to provide them vocational training before recommending them for a job. We have tied up with India Skills, an institute that imparts training in vocational skills and English language. Though the course fee is Rs 11,000, we charge a paltry Rs 500 from the candidates. The subsidy amount comes from the sponsors. We have managed to help 95 aspirants get jobs after they completed their training. Many of them got jobs in well-known companies such as Pantaloons and Caf ufffd Coffee Day. And those who got jobs came from places such as Bhendi Bazaar and Worli Koliwada.
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On football tourneys...
We recently organised football tournaments in which around 2,000 children, belonging to different schools in South Mumbai, participated. We told them we would provide them with shoes, jerseys and shorts free of cost. They just have to play. Municipal schools might feel that they can afford only chappals, but that won't be the case here. Two children were selected and sent to London for training with the Queens Park Rangers Football Club for six-weeks. This year, four children will be sent to London. Next year, five more will be sent there for training.
On taking college students to Parliament....
I thought it was a good idea to take students to Parliament. We organised competitions in colleges and selected two students for the trip. We took them on an all-expenses-paid trip to Delhi. They were allowed a full tour of the House where Home Minister
P Chidambaram spent an hour with them.
On the Navi Mumbai airport and the Trans Harbour link...
I felt that the city badly needed another airport and pushed for clearing hurdles in the Navi Mumbai airport project. I have also been interacting with the local authorities about the Trans Harbour link.
