Talents Galore at ‘India Skills Kerala 2018’ Finale

KOCHI:
Ranging from a Class 10 student to engineering graduates, the finalists of the ongoing grand finale of the ‘India Skills Kerala 2018’ are showing their technological prowess and penchant for innovativeness in various sections of the skill-testing competition that began here today.
The three-day event, which will conclude on Monday (April 30), is being jointly organised by Industrial Training Department and Kerala Academy for Skills Excellence (KASE), the nodal agency of the state government for its Skill Development Mission.
The finalists were seen busy preparing for completing the riveting tasks assigned to them in areas ranging from mobile robotics, fashion technology, floristry and bread making to 3D Digital Game Art, Plumbing and Heating, Graphic Design Technology and Carpentry.
Overall, there are 112 finalists, who qualified for the finale by piping 7,422 participants in the district and zonal competitions. In Mobile Robotics competition, using the kit provided to them participants were asked to assemble a robot that had to finish the task by overcoming various obstacles.
“Participants have to move the robots as per the instruction of the assessors. They will get five hours one day; overall, they will have two tasks in two days,” explained Anil P.Y, Maintenance Engineer, Department of Electronics, Cochin University.
“Mobile Robotics is an emerging field and it has relevance in the modern age. There were 75 participants in the zonal competitions and six of them were selected for the finale,” he informed.
In floristry competition, the six contestants were given Indo-western wedding theme (spray arrangement) on the first day to be finished in four hours. Marks will be given based on measurement, design, colour combination and neatness.
Fashion Technology competition has a sole theme for the two days as the six participants have to stitch a dress based on the sketch and pattern given to them. CNC Milling and CNC Turning competitions have three participants each. For CNC Milling competition, there are no contestants from North zone.
Six participants in the competition for electrical installation have three tasks to complete in two days. In automobile technology competition, six contestants have three tasks. In Restaurant Service competition, there are six modules and the six participants were given four hours on the first day to complete tasks in table set up and service. On Monday, the three modules in the competition include preparing coconut-based mocktail, flambé and fruit carving.
Six types of bread making skills were tested among the six participants in the bakery competition on Sunday. The yardsticks for marks are taste, grooming, weight, colour, shape and time management. There are six participants each in competitions in Plumbing and Heating, Graphic Design Technology, Carpentry, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Wall and Floor Tiling, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering CAD, Welding and Web Design and Development. In additions, there are five contestants in Painting and Decorating and four in 3D Digital Game Art.
The state-level winners will represent Kerala at the ‘India Skills 2018’ planned in July, which will pave the way for their participation in the 45th World Skills Competition in Kazan, Russia in 2019. Around 23 exhibition stalls have been set up at the venue. Government ITI, Kalamassery has showcased anti-theft device with centre locking system for cars and Volkswagen petrol engine (MPFI) while Government ITI, Kannur is displaying quaint models of wooden pen weighing around 15 kg, London Bridge and multi-stage universal swivel vice.
Major national and state agencies are participating in the exhibition based on the current theme of skill development. The winner will get Rs 1 lakh as prize money while the runner-up will get Rs 50,000. Consolation prizes will be given to the participants, who entered the state-level competitions