Jharkhand Skill Development Society (JSDS) has deferred indefinitely the bid opening exercise for selecting NGOs for taking over skill development training of the youth of the State. The bid was to be opened on Monday as per the schedule.
“The bid opening has been postponed. No new date has been fixed as the Principal Secretary of labour, Employment and Training Mridula Sinha is away,” said an official of the JSDC requesting anonymity. The process was for appointing NGOs under the pilot project ‘Saksham Jharkhand Kaushal Vikas Yojya’.
Moreover, insiders suggest that the step had come after intervention of Departmental Minister Raj Paliwar. “JSDC had invited the NGOs affiliated with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) or a Sector Skill Council (SSC) only to participate in this bidding. Only such organisations working in the field of skill development can be considered as deemed bidders. As the clause feared to bar entry of NGOs working here in Jharkhand without getting affiliated with NSDC, there was great amount of opposition to the move,” revealed an official privy to the developments.
Interestingly, the issue had also come for discussion during the pre-bid meeting held on September 30 where host of participants queried about the conditionality. Nevertheless, the JSDS had then maintained that the affiliation of the NGOs with the NSDC, the Government of India backed organisation working in this field, with other stakeholders, was a must. NSDC, besides giving funds to companies and organisations that provide skill training, is there to create the right ecosystem for promoting skill development in the country.
“Fact remains that there should be some sort of standard for the NGOs which can be ensured through NSDC affiliation but that should not be the only criteria for selection. We have lots of organisations doing good job here in Jharkhand without getting affiliated. By putting the condition, the JSDS slammed doors on their faces. After all, the NGOs working in local condition can be proved better than those coming from other states like Maharashtra, Gujarat or Delhi,” said a State coordinator of an NGO.
When contacted, Raj Paliwar confirmed that the bid opening had been stayed due to some “technical reasons” and the process would resume at an opportune time. “There were some technical reasons behind the postponement. Whatever is in accordance with the guidelines would be done in this matter,” the Minister told The Pioneer on Monday evening. However, it is also being feared that if the Government alters the conditions put, it may attract legal issues.
Moreover, credentials of NSDC are not beyond doubt at the moment. Two of its top functionaries-Managing Director Dilip Chenoy and Chief Operating Officer Atul Bhatnagar had resigned from their posts two days ago after facing charges of lack of transparency and non-performance.