In order to review the status on the current skill ecosystem, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship(MSDE) completed its two-day Parliamentary Consultative Committee Meeting in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by Shri. Rajiv Pratap Rudy, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Skill Development (Independent Charge), Members of Parliament (MPs) representing various states across the country, Shri Rohit Nandan, Secretary MSDE, the Joint Secretaries at MSDE and other Ministry officials. The focus of this Consultative Committee bi-annual meeting this time was the role of Sector Skill Councils and the value they bring to the skill ecosystem.
Amongst the key recommendations made by the Members of the committee, there was a huge emphasis laid on the fact that Sector Skill Councils should have major focus on industry linkages. Since the SSCs role is crucial in creating the curriculum, the government should propose the formation of a National Board for Skill Certification which can focus on assessment and certification of the skill programmes being conducted across country.
The committee emphasised on the dire need for comprehensive reforms in the role of Sector Skill Councils and focus on the SSC Transit 2.0 Programme which will clearly outline the deliverables of the sector skill council and ensure there are substantial outcomes.
Asserting with the propositions made by the committee, Shri Rudy stated, “It is high time we start focusing on industry collaboration right to the district level across the country. We have to focus on the problem and find the solution than keep identifying the problem and then plan for the solution. The IT revolution in India took a long time to be at the heights where it is today, but our Skill Revolution has to happen at a much faster pace as we are sitting on a huge demographic dividend which we can reap right now.”
“We as a group of professionals in the Ministry are ensuring that we bring about convergence and coordination amongst all in the nation to make our Prime Minister’s dream of Skill India, a reality in near future. We have proposed these reforms and are working closely with the authorities to ensure we have a well-defined ecosystem which runs systematically with a measurement matrix that shows delivery.”
The committee also proposed that more Model Skill Centres like the one launched in Bhubaneswar yesterday, should be opened up across states so that there is visibility of brand “Skill India”. There has to be awareness to the last mile for every youth to capitalise on this opportunity.
The Hon’ble Minister also said that the MPs should make land/buildings available in their constituencies and NSDC along with its affiliated partners in the region will assist in setting up state-of-the-art skill centres to provide skill courses to the local youth and make them job ready. He stated that the operational cost of the centre will be borne by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
The committee also came to a common consensus that there has to be huge focus on entrepreneurship as well, to which the Minister stated that the Ministry has proposed two schemes to support entrepreneurship education and guidance for the path of growth for new and young entrepreneurs – right from establishment to running operations.
Some of the Members of Parliament present during the meeting were Shri. Dushyant Chautala, Shri. Harish Chandra Meena, Smt. Jayshreeben Patel, Dr. K. Haribabu, Shri Kanwar Bharatendra Singh, Shri Nagengedra Kumar Pradhan, Shri Nagendra Kumar Pradhan, Shri. Nanabhau Falgunrao Patole, Shri. Om Birla, Shri, Subhash Patel, Shri. Sunil Kumar Singh and Shri Basawaraj Patil.
Sector Skill Councils currently are set up as autonomous industry-led bodies for steering skill development and training. They create Occupational Standards, develop competency framework, conduct Train the Trainer Programs, affiliate Vocational Training Institutes, conduct skill gap studies in their sector leading to a Labour Market Information System and most importantly Assess and Certify trainees on the curriculum aligned to National Occupational Standards developed by them.
The committee also visited an IL&FS integrated skill development centre which is also one of the skill development centres in the city and which provides skill training across multiples trades and job roles to the local youth of Bhubaneswar. The centre is run in association with KIIT University (formerly known as Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology).
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