Patna, Nov. 24: The Union tourism ministry would introduce a scheme in Bihar next month to create job opportunities for school dropouts and provide a boost to the hospitality sector, particularly hotels and restaurants.

Once the scheme — “Hunar se Rozgar Tak” (from skill to employment) — is introduced on December 3, there would be an abundance of chefs to tickle the taste buds of foodies across the state.

The initiative aims at training 189 people for eight weeks to turn the aspirants, who have studied till Class VIII, into expert chefs. Besides, those interested to sign up for the project would have to be in the age group of 18 to 28, sources said.

“The Centre’s initiative is unique and will provide employment to many besides giving a boost to tourism. The tourism sector across the country is set to expend in the next five years with more tourist inflow. New hotels and restaurants too would come up. Bihar, too, is striving hard for the same and this initiative will be introduced in the state from the next month,” Navin Kumar, the deputy general manager of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC), told The Telegraph.

The official added that the programme would be introduced on December 3. Altogether 189 people would be trained in food production as part of the first batch of the project to be run by the Union tourism ministry and its state counterpart.

“The department has published advertisements in many newspapers. There are just two eligibility criteria — the should have passed Class VIII and be between 18 and 28 years. We have received many applications and short-listed 189 applicants for the training programme in the first batch. The department, in collaboration with Patna-based Patliputra Institute of Hotel Management, would train the budding chefs for eight weeks,” the official added.

Training will also be provided in housekeeping and food and beverage (F&B) service, which include responsibilities of stewards, captains, waiters and others.

“Fifty applicants have been chosen for training in housekeeping and around 60 have been selected for training in F&B service. They will be provided a six-week programme at hotel Kautilya Vihar, which belongs to the tourism department. The department has selected an impressive faculty with the teachers having received training from institutes like Institute of Hotel Management, Catering and Nutrition, Pusa (New Delhi) and others. After the training, they can either work with the hotels of the tourism department or get a job themselves. The next batch would have more courses like bakery and others,” another official said.

He said stress would be laid on them joining the government hotels. At present, there are around 180 hotels in the state of which 17 belong to BSTDC.

“The number of hotels would increase. Though nothing can be said at present, as the planning for the same is on,” the official said.