The Centre on Thursday launched a programme to provide internship to fresh engineering, architectural and science graduates in all urban local bodies and smart cities across the country.
The programme, known as the Urban Learning Internship Program (TULIP), was jointly launched by Union Human Resource Development Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs Hardeep. S. Puri on Thursday.
“TULIP would help enhance the value-to-market of India’s graduates and help create a potential talent pool in diverse fields like urban planning, transport engineering, environment, municipal finance etc. thus not only catalyzing creation of prospective city managers but also talented private/ non-government sector professionals,” an official statement said.
“TULIP would benefit ULBs and smart cities immensely. It will lead to an infusion of fresh ideas and energy with the engagement of youth in co-creation of solutions for solving India’s urban challenges,” it added.
The programme would help fulfil twin goals of providing interns with the hands-on learning experience as well as infusing fresh energy and ideas in the functioning of India’s ULBs and Smart Cities, it said.
Any graduate who have completed B. Tech, B. Arch, B. Plan, BSc etc. can apply for the TULIP programme within 18 months from date of its graduation by going to the AICTE Internship website.
Giving details of the programme, Puri said that it is expected that 25000 fresh graduates will receive an opportunity of internship in the first year itself.
“This will not only help the interns get hands-on experience in the vast activities of urban local bodies but will also help to create a resource upon which the industry can draw easily for hiring,” he added.
TULIP has been conceived pursuant to the Budget 2020-21 announcement by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman under the theme ‘Aspirational India’.