Kapil Mishra urges industry leaders to promote car pooling, work from home at CII Delhi State Council meet
New Delhi, May 20
In a bid to push for sustainable practices, Delhi Art, Culture & Languages, Tourism and Labour Minister Kapil Mishra appealed to industry leaders to implement Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call for energy conservation by promoting car pooling and hybrid work models.
According to a press release, Mishra also shared future plans aimed at developing Delhi as one of the country's and the world's leading tourism and event destinations.
The Minister was speaking at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Delhi State Council meeting held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi on Tuesday, where detailed deliberations were held on tourism, skill development, the event industry, and industrial policies.
Aligning with the resolve of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Mishra urged corporate houses to adopt eco-friendly commuting and flexible working structures.
"All of us are trying our best to use the Metro, buses or travel together in a single vehicle. You should also promote car pooling in your institutions. Wherever possible, implement work from home for two or three days a week. Try to save fuel, promote electric vehicles and avoid unnecessary electricity consumption," Mishra said.
Taking a sharp dig at previous governance models regarding tourism initiatives, the Minister said that the government will work with "industry, malls and markets" to organise a strong and transparent shopping festival.
"An RTI revealed that advertisements worth ₹80 crore were issued in the name of a shopping festival, but the shopping festival was not organised even for a single day. The Delhi Government will not work on that model. If the industry, malls and markets come together, the government will work with them to organise a strong and transparent shopping festival that becomes not just a one-time event but a permanent identity of Delhi," he added.
The Minister announced that the Delhi government is planning a series of large-scale annual events--including major literature and music festivals--scheduled around November, December, and February to draw domestic and international tourists.
Mishra revealed that the government is working on a "viability gap funding" policy. Under this policy, the government will move beyond just granting administrative permissions and extend financial assistance to major event organisers when required, the release said.
Addressing the critical issue of unemployment and industrial demand, the Minister called for a joint effort between the state and the private sector to bridge the existing skill gap.
"There is a huge skill gap. Many young people are educated but do not possess the skills required to get immediate employment, while many industries are unable to find skilled manpower. If you are ready to run skill development centres, I am also ready to provide land for them," Mishra promised industry representatives.
The Minister emphasised that a collective partnership is essential for the city's rapid transformation.
"This is the time for partnership. It is time to move forward together in the journey of a changing Delhi and a changing India. This city is going to transform rapidly. New infrastructure will be developed, new opportunities will emerge, and Delhi will rise as a major global destination," Mishra concluded.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally someone is talking about skill development! So many engineers I know can't find jobs because they don't have practical skills. Industry and government working together on this is exactly what we need. Hope they actually execute it well.
That ₹80 crore shopping festival scam is shocking! 😡 No wonder people have lost trust in governments. Good that Kapil Mishra is calling it out and promising transparency. But we've heard promises before... let's see actual results.
As someone who's worked in Delhi for years, the traffic is insane. WFH 2-3 days a week would be a blessing. But corporate India needs to trust employees - many companies still think work happens only in offices. Old mindsets need to change.
Love the idea of literature and music festivals in Delhi! We have so much culture but not enough well-organized events. Make it happen, government. And please keep them affordable for common people, not just elite crowds. 🎭📚
Kapil Mishra's energy is good but let's be honest - car pooling in Delhi is easier said than done when everyone has different timings and routes. The government should provide dedicated carpool lanes or incentives like toll discounts. Small steps can make a big difference!
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