On World Youth Skills Day, 10 Government Initiatives You Should Know About
15 July is celebrated as World Youth Skills Day by the United Nations since 2014. The UN is of the firm belief that skill development of the youth, especially in developing countries, will be the key to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is for this reason that Skill Building is being given a major focus globally.
Back home in India, there is already considerable focus by the Government on skill development of the youth, and Skill Development is not just a theme but an actual Ministry of the Government of India! On World Youth Skills Day, here are 10 initiatives taken by the Government of India for skill development that you must learn about and share with all those who stand to benefit from these programmes, schemes and opportunities.
1. Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship
The Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is responsible for coordination of all skill development efforts across India, removal of disconnect between demand and supply of skilled manpower, building vocational and technical training framework, skill up-gradation, building new skills and innovative thinking not only for existing jobs but also jobs that are to be created.
The Ministry aims to skill on a large scale with speed and high standards in order to achieve the Government’s Vision of a Skilled India.
2. Pradhan Mantri Kausahal Vikas Yojana
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship. Its key agenda, Skill Certification Scheme, aims to enable large number of Indian youth to take up industry-relevant skill training that will help them in securing a better livelihood.
Individuals with prior learning experience or skills are also being assessed under this Scheme and certified under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
3. National Skill Development Agency
National Skill Development Agency (NSDA) is an autonomous body under Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship that anchors the National Skill Qualifications Framework and allied quality assurance mechanisms for synergizing skill initiatives in the country.
4. National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme
http://www.apprenticeship.gov.in/pages/Apprenticeship/home.aspx
Apprenticeship training is a course of training in an industry or establishment, under a contract of apprenticeship which consists of a) basic training component and b) on-the-job-training (OJT)/practical training at the workplace.
Establishments having work force (regular and contract employees) of 40 or more are mandated to undertake Apprenticeship Programmes in a range from 2.5% -10% of its workforce. The Government initiatied a new Scheme on 19 July 2016 called the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) to motivate establishments for taking more apprentices by providing financial support to the establishments.
5. National Skill Development Corporation
National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a not-for-profit public limited company by the Ministry of Finance as Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. The Government of India through Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) holds 49% of the share capital of NSDC.
The NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing creation of large, quality and for-profit vocational institutions. Further, the organisation provides funding to build scalable and profitable vocational training initiatives.
6. Skill India Portal
https://skillindia.nsdcindia.org
The Skill India Portal is an interactive portal and is actually a Skill Development Management System for searching training as well as becoming a trainer. It is an initiative by National Skill Development Corporation of India
7. Directorate General of Training
The Directorate General of Training (DGT) of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is the apex organisation for developing and coordinating programmes relating to vocational training including Women’s Vocational Training.
Industrial Training Institutes are under the administrative and financial control of State Governments or Union Territory Administrations. DGT also operates Vocational Training Schemes in some of the specialized areas through field institutes under its direct control.
8. Skill Development Bureau of University Grants Commission
https://www.ugc.ac.in/skill/index.html
The University Grants Commission (UGC) is the principal agency governing higher education institutions in India. Since the Government has set-up a target to impart necessary skills to about 500 million people by 2022, the UGC has aligned itself with this goal.
The UGC has implemented the following three schemes to achieve this, 1) Community Colleges, 2) B.Voc Degree Programme, and 3) Deen Dayal Upadhyay Centres for Knowledge Acquisition and Upgradation of Skilled Human Abilities and Livelihood (KAUSHAL).
9. Green Skill Development Programme
http://www.gsdp-envis.gov.in/index.aspx
Most vocational training programmes mentioned above focus on mechanical skills rather than soft or green skills. However, green skills contribute to preserving or restoring environmental quality for sustainable future and do include jobs that protect ecosystems and biodiversity, reduce energy and minimize waste and pollution.
In line with the Skill India Mission of the Government, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has taken up this initiative for skill development in the environment and forest sector to enable India’s youth to get gainful employment. The initiative is aptly titled Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP).
The programme endeavours to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development.
10. Skill Council for Green Jobs
Skill Council for Green Jobs is one of the most recently launched initiatives of the Government of India aligned to the National Skill Development Mission. It is promoted by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The creation of the SCGJ was approved in the 10th meeting of National Skill Qualifications Committee held on 28th September 2015. Established as a not-for-profit, autonomous, industry-led society, the SCGJ was incorporated under the Societies Registration Act XXI, 1860 on 1st October, 2015.
