Budget 2017: Mega project brings focus on skill development

New Delhi : Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced as part of his Budget 2017 speech that the Centre would launch a Rs 4,000 crore scheme, called “Sankalp”, for skill development. He told Lok Sabha that the programme would aim to give market-relevant training to crores of youth. The move has been welcomed by organizations working in the sector.

Jaitley’s announcement on skill development was three-pronged. Apart from the Sankalp programme, he also announced that the number of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras would be increased from 60 to over 600. The other major initiative on the skill development front he announced was the establishment of 100 India International Skills Centres (IISC).

“These centres will offer advanced training and courses in foreign languages. This will help those who seek job opportunities outside the country,” Jaitley said in his Budget speech.

The new scheme he announced Sankalp (acronym for Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion Programme) would be put in motion in the coming fiscal. “Sankalp will provide market relevant training to 3.5 crore youths,” he said.