Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Thursday announced to set up a Skill Development University in order to revamp the ongoing skill development mission in the State. “We are going to hold a meeting in this regard with experts from corporate houses, PSUs, including CCl and BCCl, and also intellectuals in February to give it a concrete shape,” he pointed out. Das said that he wanted children to develop skills and announced to introduce ‘Skill Development Courses’ in the State Government-run schools from 2016-17 academic session.
The Chief Minister was speaking at a function at Aryabhatt Auditorium of Ranchi University, held to distribute certificates to the students trained under the National University Student Skill Development (NUSSD) programme. “The PM is ensuring that youngsters are connected with skill development opportunities. It is because graduate youths often possess degree but lack the skills. In such a situation, grabbing a job becomes difficult,” he pointed out. “We will begin skill development courses in schools from Classes V and VI onwards. Our main purpose is to empower 1.10 crore youth population of the State,” said Das.
Also, Das said that he was determined to revamp the ‘Skill Development Mission’ started in 17 departments around one and a half years back. “The previous Government ignored the mission. But, we have plans to make it functional. A meeting with officials of the concerned 17 departments and stakeholders like corporate houses will be called in the first week of February,” said the CM. Das, an alumnus of RU, felt associating Skill Development Mission with National Council of Vocational Training (NCVT) will create more employment opportunities for the locals.
He said in the Vibrant Gujarat Festival more than 70 Pravasi (non-resident) Indians from various sectors expressed their eagerness to visit Jharkhand. “We will request the Government to allow Pravasis setting up their factories in our State wherein the skilled local manpower will be provided by us,” Das said. Besides these initiatives, a website related to various types of skills will be soon started.
On this occasion, Planning and Development Principal Secretary Arun Kumar Singh said the Government wants to develop a pool of trainers. “Our annual per capita income is comparatively lower than the national data. Skilled students can help in developing the status,” Singh stressed. Notably, the NUSSD programme is being coordinated by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The RU was among a few universities where the programme was unveiled as a pilot project in 2013.
Previously, Ranchi Women’s College and Marwari students were selected in 2013-14 session under the scheme. More than 200 students of these colleges pursued the free of cost add-on course in the last one year. In 2014-15, Ranchi College and Nirmala College have been selected. Undergraduate students pursuing the course for one year will get a certificate. Those continuing the same for two years will get a diploma degree while three years’ course is an advanced diploma degree.
The Ministry and TISS officials are in talks with the Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FJCCI) for providing internship to students undergoing the courses in order to give a professional experience. An interaction over the matter was held among the parties on January 20. Meanwhile, RU Vice-Chancellor lN Bhagat requested the Chief Minister to grant them Rs 250 crore. According to Bhagat, the required fund will help the university in producing 2,500 employable students.