Indian government initiates a new push to skill development

Skill development is one of the key focus areas of the Indian government now and this is reflected by the formation of the new skill expansion initiatives in the past years

As India prepares to take the mantle of skilled manpower sphere, aiming to provide the world with competent personnel, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has introduced a set of new initiatives to boost skill development in the country.

As of 2020, there will be a huge requirement of skilled workforce all over the world and majority of the population in other countries would be above 60 years of age by then. India aims to stand up and be counted by answering the call for skilled labour forces.

Skill development is one of the key focus areas of the Indian government now and this is reflected by the formation of the new skill expansion initiatives in the past years.

Adding another step in the series of schemes for skill development, Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has launched a line-up of skill development initiatives for the country’s youth and laid the foundation of the first ‘Indian Institute of Skills’ in the country yesterday.

The institute, which was conceptualised by him during his visit to Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education, is inspired by the Singapore model of training and will adopt various best practices from the country. Eventually, India will be equipped with six such institutes across the country.

Along with this, Modi also took the opportunity to inaugurate Kaushal Pradarshini (skill exhibition) for the youth in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The exhibition showcases ultra-modern vocational training practices which is open for public on December 19-22.

To further create growth opportunities, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) also plans to launch 31 Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras (Prime Minister Skill Development Centres) and Drivers’ Training Institutes in the country that will serve as skilling centres for the unemployed youth.

MSDE also felicitated skilled candidates trained under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana in Kanpur with skill certificates to street food vendors and leather industry workers under the recognition of prior learning program of the government.

Skill development associations

The government has commenced new partnerships with various sectors and companies in India to train and employ around 400,000 people over the next three years.

In a similar bid, an Indian online transportation network and car rental company, Ola will invest INR 1 billion towards skill development in India and empower 100,000 driver-partners in the next three years.

“We are excited to partner with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to invest in the training and skilling of drivers as this would help us realise the larger goal to skill 5 million drivers in the next five years while contributing towards our mission of building mobility for a billion Indians,” said Bhavish Aggarwal, CEO and Co-Founder, Ola.

While MSDE is also collaborating with the leather and textiles industries in Kanpur, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has signed a contract with the Adani Group, an Indian multinational conglomerate, to train 300,000 persons by 2022.

A much-needed step

According to a study by the United Nations (UN), the number of Indians who have attained the age of 60 years or above would increase to 323 million by 2050 as compared to the current 100 million plus. India needs to focus on developing skills of youth so that this doesn’t become an obstacle for the economy and the country.

India has lately been focusing on its skill development initiatives very keenly. After the budget allocations and schemes by the government for skilling workforce last year, innovative moves like the creation of the skill development and entrepreneurship ministry (MSDE) by the Modi government, launch of the Skill India campaign, and skill development programme in prisons underline the government’s resolve when it comes to skilling and mobilising the workforce at its disposal.

However, it is yet to be seen how things turn out for the government as well as for the associates and the trainees.