Industrial park in campuses: Industry along with education and job opportunity; 25 parks may be started this year

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Industrial parks will be started on the campuses with the aim of providing industry and employment to the students along with their studies. It has been approved by the cabinet and is the first of its kind in the country.

Universities, colleges, polytechnics, ITIs etc. having a minimum of five acres of land can start parks. 2 acres is enough for standard design factories. Minister P Rajeev said that the plan is to start 25 in this financial year. More than 70 educational institutions and two universities have expressed interest. 1.5 crores will be allocated by the government for roads, electricity, waste disposal etc. Funding for production units in parks is also being considered. These include student start-ups, practical and industrial production of research conducted in colleges, and units of large industrial firms interested in utilizing the purchasing power of the campuses. Students can avoid migrating abroad for study and employment.

A small version of Campus Industrial Park has been started at Kottarakkara IHRD College on a trial basis. It is in collaboration with Kerala Startup Mission, Institute of Human Resource Development and ZOHO Corporation in a 3,500 square feet building. This was seen as a success and is being rolled out.

Parks will be established in such a way that it does not affect the studies of the students. It will pave the way to foster entrepreneurship among students and strengthen industry-academia linkages. Institutions entrusted with educational institutions can also apply. A developer permit should be taken for this. Parks will be on surplus land after securing land for academic activities. In continuation of this, cooperative industrial parks will also be started.

Industrial zone designation for those that are approved

1. Applications will be decided upon by a State Level Selection Committee comprising Principal Secretaries of Industries, Higher Education, Revenue, Water Resources, Finance, Local Government, Energy and Environment Departments.
2. At the district level, a committee consisting of representatives of various departments will inspect the site and ensure that the land can be used for industrial purposes
3. NOC of the Higher Education Department is required. Ones that get approved are also eligible for industrial zone status

Opportunity for Apprenticeship

• Students will have an opportunity for apprenticeship
• Preference for those according to the subject nature of educational institutions
• Implementation responsibility rests with the management of the institutions
• IT and electronics institutions where youngsters can work will be started

"The shortage of land for industrial purposes can be solved and land lying idle under educational institutions can be used for industrial development.

-Minister P Rajeev