Skill Development in India: Initiatives
Skill Development in India: Initiatives
Question : Union Cabinet chaired by PM Modi recently gave approval for the National Skill Development Mission. Discuss the key initiatives taken by GoI for skill development.
- Union Cabinet has approved the institutional framework for the National Skill Development Mission in accordance with the Budget for 2015-2016
- National Skill Development Mission is associated with strong institutional framework at Central and State level for implementation of skilling activities in the nation
- Mission will comprise a 3 tiered, high powered decision making structure
- At the top, the Mission’s Governing Council chaired by the PM will provide complete guidance and policy direction
- This mission will ensure coordination and convergence of skilling activities across the Central Ministries/Departments and State Governments
- Mission will also run sub missions in areas which are accorded high priority
- National Skill Development Agency, National Skill Development Corporation and Directorate of Training will function under the overall Mission
- Government has paved the way for a new skilling ecosystem with closer coordination across public and private sectors
- Establishment of Common Norms Across Skill Development Schemes
- Union Cabinet has given approval for common norms across skill development schemes
- Over 70 odd Skill Development Programmes are being implemented by the Centre with norms for eligibility criteria, training duration, cost of training, outcomes monitoring and tracking mechanism
- Multiplicity of norms and parameters have created a diffusive effect of SDPs
- Common norms aim to rationalise the whole spectrum of skill development processes and systems comprising inputs, outputs, funding/cost norms, third party certification and assessment, monitoring and tracking mechanism and empanelment of training providers
- Common Norms define the activities constituting Skill Development within the nation including skill development courses and their alignment with National Skills Qualification Framework
- Broad input standards for training programmes and outcomes are expected from these programmes
- Outcomes of skill training programmes have been enunciated as per placement achieved in wage and self employment for trainees as ell as current workers who have undergone recognition of prior learning
- Common norms are aimed at being outcome focused, but cost norms and fund flow mechanism for skill development programmes have been linked to certain outcomes
- Cost norms include support for components such as candidate mobilisation, training trainers, placement expenses, post placement tracking/monitoring and infrastructure costs
- A Common Norms Committee has also been envisaged under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- Committee will comprise 8 other reps from concerned central ministries/departments, state governments and national skill development agency as well as national skill development corporation
- It will also be empowered to revise and amend common norms, notification schedules, training costs and funding norms for skill development programmes
- State governments are expected to align their norms with the common norms to bring about uniformity and standardisation
- First Integrated National policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- Union Cabinet gave the approval for the nation’s first Integrated National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
- This policy provides a successful roadmap for the promotion of entrepreneurship as a successful skills strategy
- Policy aims to create an ecosystem of empowerment through skilling on a massive scale with top standards and promote a culture of innovation based entrepreneurship which can ensure sustainable livelihood for citizens in the nation
- Policy has 4 thrust areas namely low aspirational value, integration with formal education, lack of focus on outcomes and low quality of training infrastructure and trainers
- It also seeks to associate mentors with incubators
Facts and Stats
- The 68th round of NSSO estimated only 4.69 percent of the total workforce in India has undergone formal skill training as against 52% in the US, 68% in the UK, 75% in Germany, 80% in Japan and 96% in S. Korea
- Despite efforts to speedy up skill India, the nation continues to face a skilling challenge of vast proportions; the 2011 Census and the NSSO (68th round) data has estimated that 104 million fresh entrants in the workforce will need skill training by 2022 and 298 million of the current workforce will need additional skill training over the same time
