New Delhi: Emphasising on the need for strengthening institutional mechanisms for skill development at the State level and bringing in a more robust framework, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Shri Anand Kumar Hegde, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, today launched an array of initiatives at a day long State Ministers Conference held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi today. The workshop saw a participation from more than 90% of the States, discussing the skills agenda.
The conference witnessed the launch of new courses for ITIs for India’s youth, as an endeavour to promote emerging skill areas such Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Robotic Process Automation, Internet of Things, Robotics, Big Data Analytics, 3D Printing, etc. which would be in high demand globally in coming days.Keeping this in mind an MOU was been signed today between DGT & NASSCOM (National Association of Software Services Companies) for enabling Skill Development & Continuous learning for ITI trainees & trainers.
Recognising the concurrent nature of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the conference marked the launch of new Affiliation Norms 2018restoring the primacy of State Govt in the Affiliation process. Affiliation Norms 2018 aims at establishing high quality Institutions for Skill Training in all parts of the country especially the un-served blocks. To ensure transparency in the affiliation process, a Portal has also been designed and was launched at the event. The portal has a three-stage processwhich simplifies the overall affiliation process.
MSDE also today announced a Self-Grading exercise for ITIs to provide “Star Rating” to each institute, to ensure quality assessment of ITI and a healthy competition between them.
Addressing the State representatives, Shri Pradhan said, “Vocational Training is a concurrent subject and thus it is imperative that Centre and State governments work closely to ensure a paradigm shift in addressing the issues relevant to skill development and identify the gaps in skill development, so as to achieve the objectives in terms of quantity, quality, outreach, and mobility while building this largest human resource exercise that we have undertaken. The States should align themselves to reforms being done to our central initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (PMKK), Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS).”
“Industrial Training Institutes played a vital role in economic development of the country, especially in terms of supplying skilled manpower to industries. We have focused extensively on upgradation and modernization of our institutes. It is our endeavour to establish at least one ITI in each block of the country by end of 2018”, he further added.
MSDE also today commenced its partnership with Ministry of Home Affairs which has “Surrender-cum-Rehabilitation Scheme for Left Wing Extremists”, where surrendered Left-Wing Extremistscan take admission in an institute and they are supported with stipend amounting to Rs. 6000/- per month for a maximum period of three years.It has been found that most of such people do not have requisite qualification for getting admission in Industrial Training Institutes. MSDE has realized this situation and accordingly relaxed the entry qualification by tweaking the existing Craftsmen Training Scheme, so that they may secure gainful wage or self-employment after acquiring skill in ITIs. Shri Pradhan today presented the offer of admission to two such beneficiaries at the event.
Urging the States to take the mission to the last mile, Shri Hedge said,“We have introduced an array of schemes and initiatives today, but the real results will only be seen when they reach the masses. Our endeavour both at the Centre and State level should result in transforming the life of the person living in the last mile. Skill India should be reverberated amongst the youth to create a movement for nation building.We will have to give focus to adapting ourselves to skill education along with conventional education. We would want support from all the States. Only Skill development can change the future of the country.”
A common portal under National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) at http://apprenticeshipindia.org was also launchedto integrate all apprenticeship training under both designated and optional trades. The new portal will provide all the stakeholders a uniform user experience with customized dashboard to respective user requirements. It will have more automated modules with minimal outside intervention.
Some of the key dignitaries from the States who participated are: Shri Vijay Kumar Sinha, Minister, Labor Resources, Bihar, Shri Vipul Goel, Hon’ble Minister, Industries and Commerce, Environment And Skill Development and Industrial Training, Shri ShambajiPatilNilangekar, Minister Labor and Employment, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Maharashtra, Shri Th. Radheshyam Singh, Minister Education, Labour and Employment, Manipur, Dr. Jaswant Singh Yadav, Hon’ble Minster, Labor and Skills, Employment and Entrepreneurship Department, Government of Rajasthan, Dr.Harak Singh Rawat, Minister Labour, Employment, Skill Development, Uttarakhand.
The conference witnessed discussion between the Central and the State Governments on the critical need for scaling up concerted efforts to enhance skill development in India, in the context of the country’s transition to a knowledge-based economy, through the creation of a professional skilled workforce. Governmental efforts, especially in the recent past, in the arena of skill development through various schemes and programmes, management structures and processes, and the challenges encountered within these initiatives were discussed at the day- long session held with the States. Officials from the State Government and the Centre jointly examined the issues, worked together on identifying pathways for countering these challenges and effective implementation of the programmes to bring scale, speed and standards to the Skill India program of the government.
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