“Ministry of Tourism will be setting up 19 State IHMs and 25 State FCIs during the 11th Plan Period” said, Shri Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism at a programme organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Indian Culinary Forum to donate proceeds of Chef Awards 2009 to Charities on 30th June 2010 at New Delhi. Chef Awards 2009, held in October last year was the sixth in series since PHD Chamber in collaboration with the ICF(Indian Culinary Forum) and IFCA(Indian Federation of Culinary Associations) took this initiative in 2004, to institute awards to recognize Crafts persons in the Culinary Profession to highlight appreciation for the Chefs’ contribution in strengthening the hospitality industry and tourism, as well as, towards the society.

Hotel and hospitality sector plays an important role in the growth and sustainability of tourism sector in the country , mentioned the Minister and informed that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved broad basing hospitality education. Vocational schools, polytechnics, universities and colleges would be involved to meet the growing demand of trained manpower in hospitality sector. Revised guidelines for the Scheme of Assistance to Institute of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes have also been issued, apprised the Minister, at the gathering comprising of Chefs and Industry representatives from Hospitality sector.

While the combined training capabilities currently available in the country are able to provide only 12000 trained personnel for absorption in the Hospitality industry and existing demand is far higher at 2 lakh personnel annually, to bridge this demand-supply gap, the Tourism Ministry has launched the “Hunar Se Rozgar” programme, Shri Ahmed explained, which envisages creation of employable skills in hospitality sector under the Capacity Building Scheme, targets the youth of weaker sections of Society who are interested in joining the hospitality industry and is being operated simultaneously in the Institutes of Hotel Management and Food Craft Institutes across the country.

Culinary skills are highly specialized and require in-depth knowledge of the region, customs, traditions and culture of its clientele. With increasing awareness and interest in cuisine of continents and countries, it has become necessary that we lend greater recognition and appropriate status to the profession of Chefs, said Shri Anil Bhandari, Co-Chairman, Tourism Committee, PHD Chamber.

Chef Davinder Kumar, former President, ICF expressed satisfaction about the “Chefs” profession being considered for the Padma Awards, as was announced by the Minister.