To promote better quality of print education for the future of the printing and packaging industry in Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Printers Association (LPA) met the governor of Uttar Pradesh, Ram Naik, on 1 January 2016 at Rajbhawan in Lucknow. Aimed at establishing a print education centre and imparting education at the BTech and MTech level in Uttar Pradesh, the meeting was the outcome of a proposal that was presented at LPA’s Third Mega Event on 28 November 2015 to the UP governor Naik.
Present at the meeting in January 2016 were Vinay Kumar Pathak, vice chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow;Abdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow (North) and chairman – international relations, AIFMP; Anand Limaye, general secretary, AIFMP; Jawahar Lal Bhargava, president of LPA; Harjinder Singh, general secretary of LPA and co-chairman, international relations, AIFMP.
At the meeting, LPA presented the detailed outline for the training of outof-school and school drop-outs. Kamal Chopra said, “Our concept is very simple. We at LPA wish to develop not only the industry but are also interested in developing the society and eradicating unemployment. The research shows that there is a large number of school drop-outs – about 63% of the school students drop out at different stages before reaching Class X due to socio-economic circumstances of the family and the compulsion of earning a livelihood rather than attending a formal course. Very few opportunities for skill development are available for these out-of-school youth. With a little training, these youth can be trained to become skilled workers.” Chopra also presented the detailed training modules with syllabus and details about the system of training and certification.
Anand Limaye added that higher education in printing (BTech, Mtech and PhD in printing) is not available in Uttar Pradesh. Since the technology is now completely changed, printing today is not only ink on paper, it is much more than that. Printed electronics is another field which is going very strong. “For the development and growth of printing, it is necessary to start a degree level printing course in the state so that in future we may not lag behind,” Limaye said.
It was decided at the meeting that the representatives of LPA and the faculty of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University would meet together again to discuss the technicalities and role of LPA and the University in enforcing the project. Pathak, vice chancellor of APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, agreed that the technical course for modular employable skills (MES) in printing can be taken up immediately at some polytechnic associated with the APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University, only if LPA can provide the students for such courses. It was also agreed that the certification of qualified students will be done by the University after following the prescribed procedure. LPA will be responsible for 100% placement of the trained students and also allow using the printing presses of its members for practical training of students.
