India Skills Kerala 2020: Food Stalls of ITI Students Turn Gourmets’ Delight

KOZHIKODE:
A group of ITI students have converted their culinary skills into entrepreneurial activity by putting up food stalls dishing out a variety of delicacies at the ongoing finale of the government-organised India Skills Kerala 2020 here.

The eating joint, set up by Basic Training Centre (BTC), Kollam, of Industrial Training Department, is luring the visitors to Swapna Nagari, the venue of the state-level finale of the multi-tier event. The selection on the menu include straight-off- the pan dosas to with succulent coconut chutney and thick sambar, spongy muffins and fresh juice, apart from the items typical of their down south city, renowned as the cashew town for centuries.

According to Deepesh V S, Training Instructor with the BTC Kollam, the food stall helps the institute’s trainees get greater exposure to the real world of food and catering business, which was the objective. “Earning profit is not our aim. We believe that the display of the skill will better equip our students to gain jobs in the hospitality industry. Industry experts visiting the venue are meeting the students, who prepare all the dishes by themselves, ”he said.

Around 20 trainees from the BTC have come here along with10 faculty members, who are giving them guidance.“The students are from our craft-level courses like food production, F&B service, bakery and confectionary, and hospitality and hotel management. Very few ITIs in the state like those at Pallithode and Mala offer catering courses,” he added.

A six-member team from Government ITI, Kalpetta, has also put up a food stall that sells Wayanad-specific delicacies like honeyed-gooseberry, kulukki sarbath, mulayari payasam and steamed kappa sprinkled with chilli and pepper. Instructor Amal of that ITI in the hilly district is leading the students, who double up as cooks and servers.

India Skills Kerala 2020is being organised by the Industrial Training Department (ITD) and Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), both under the State Labour and Skills Department.

The February 22-24 event gives the contestants an opportunity to participate at the national competitions, where the victors get a chance to represent the country at World Skills 2021 at Shanghai in China.