Fresh engineering graduates to get internship opportunities with local bodies, smart cities

The Centre on Thursday launched an urban learning internship programme — TULIP — for fresh engineering graduates who will get an opportunity to work for 4,400 urban local bodies and 100 smart cities in the country.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ jointly launched an online portal of The Urban Learning Internship Programme, which will allow applicants internship for up to one year in areas like urban planning, financing, environmental engineering, sanitation and infrastructure.

Puri said urban services in the country are very comprehensive and this programme offers on-ground experience for fresh engineering graduates, asserting that “It is a dynamic model”.

He said both ULBs and smart cities can utilise the fresh ideas of the young people in improving services and making local bodies effective.

Pokhriyal said the government aims to provide internship to one crore youths in the next five years.

Housing and Urban Secretary Durga Shanker Mishra said the ministry is working on producing “specialised cadre” that can be utilised in different sectors.

He said the online portal will provide a common platform to interested candidates, ULBs and smart cities, who will post details of their requirements.

“This is a flexible programme. We have set a target of providing 25,000 fresh engineering graduates in the next one year.

“An applicant will also have liberty in choosing his or her subject like sanitation, urban planning, infrastructure and financing,” Mishra said.

An MoU has also been signed between MoHUA and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) as per which technical support for the platform shall be anchored by AICTE and the programmatic non-technical support shall be anchored by MoHUA. — PTI