The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved three crucial proposals for setting up a National Rail and Transport University (NRTU), capacity building in textile sector and extension of the tenure of Commission on OBC examining the issue of sub-categorisation of Other Backward Classes.
While the NRTU under the Railway Ministry has been approved to skill its human resources and build capability of Indian Railways network, the Scheme for Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS) will ensure new skill development covering the entire value chain of the textile sector excluding spinning & weaving in organised Sector.
The NRTU to be set up in Vadodara, Gujarat will be set up as a deemed to be university under de novo category as per the UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016.
“The Government is working towards completing all approvals by April 2018 and to launch the first academic program in July 2018. This innovative idea, inspired by the Prime Minister, will be a catalyst for transformation of rail and transport sector towards New India,” said a railway statement after the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the NRTU formation.
Further, the SCBTS with an outlay of Rs 1,300 crore will be a National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF) compliant training courses with funding norms as per the Common Norms notified by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
The objectives of SCBTS scheme are to provide demand driven, placement oriented skilling programme to incentivise the efforts of the industry in creating jobs in the organised textile and related sectors; to promote skilling and skill up-gradation in the traditional sectors through respective Sectoral Divisions/organisations of Ministry of Textiles; and to provide livelihood to all sections of the society across the country.
Further, the extension of the tenure till April 2, 2018 will enable the Commission on OBC to submit a comprehensive report on the issue of sub-categorisation of OBCs, after consultation with various stakeholders.
The Commission headed by Justice (Retd) G Rohini, commenced functioning on October 11, 2017, and has since interacted with all the States/UTs having reservation for OBCs, and the State Backward Classes Commissions.