Chandigarh : As part of Government of India’s dissemination efforts, a workshop on National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) was organized by DFID today with the technical support of FICCI for promotion and adoption of Apprenticeship Training. The workshop was attended by a host of CEOs, Founders, HR Heads and Senior Managers from more than 65 leading organisations across automobile, food, health, infrastructure, pharma and IT sectors. Representatives from companies like Swaraj Engines, Subros India, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, Mahindra & Mahindra and others attended the workshop. Mr Andrew Ayre, British Deputy High Commissioner, Chandigarh, India, was the chief guest at the workshop and spoke about the importance of skilling and apprenticeship training for a country to build a skilled workforce.
PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry, being the local partner, supported the workshop. Mr Mukul Bansal, Punjab Committee, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry promised full support to engage more and more of their members in this NAPS registration drive. He stated that “learnings through practical exposure will remain the most effective way of skilling in 21st century”.
The NAPS workshop is part of a series of workshops to be conducted across industry clusters surrounding major cities targeting the private sector to promote NAPS and help them fill the skill gap in their workforce. Mr J P Meena, Director, Regional Directorate of Apprenticeship Training Faridabad, presented the apprenticeship training scenario in Chandigarh, Haryana & Punjab and explained the benefits of NAPS to support the industry. The workshop covered knowledge sessions on engaging apprentices, its benefits, case studies from the industries engaging apprentices and on-the-spot establishment registration kiosk.
Apprenticeship Training
The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key programs for creating skilled manpower in India.
The Apprentices Act, as amended in 2014, makes provision for training of apprentices by Industry/ employers/ organisations across all sectors. Government of India has sanctioned INR 10,000 crores over the next four years to provide financial incentives to the employers for engagement of apprentices.
Department for International Development (DFID), Government of UK is supporting the roll out of NAPS as a part of its technical collaboration with the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). FICCI is supporting the ministry in popularizing the NAPS by targeting the industrial clusters and addressing their apprenticeship related issues.
Ms Anu Gupta, Head Skills and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth & Investment Team, DFID showcased the various innovative ways in which UK government is supporting India in education, skills and health sectors by closing working with the respective government departments.
