JAYANT KRISHNA, CEO, NSDC talks to SANGEETA YADAV about the upcoming initiatives and an overlook at the work done so far
What is the present state of skill development of people in IndiaIJ
We are facing significant challenges on this front. At present, 54 per cent of our population is below 25 years of age and over 62 per cent of them is in the working-age group. In India alone we have an incremental human resources requirement of 109 million skilled people across 24 key sectors by the year 2022. However, only around 5 per cent of the Indian population has undergone formal skills training. Moreover, there is the high number of people entering the workforce every year. To meet this shortfall, the newly formed Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDC), NSDA and NSDC are working on this through various initiatives like PMKVY, Udaan, National Urban livelihoods Mission, etc.
Tell us about the recent initiatives of NSDCIJ
NSDC is working under the guidance of the MSDE and hence aims to support as many schemes as projects as it can under the PPP model. MSDE’s recent skill development policy has helped rationalise the entire spectrum of skill development processes and systems including inputs, outputs, funding, cost norms, third party certification and assessment, monitoring or tracking mechanisms, and empanelment of training providers. NSDC also works with corporates, foundations and PSEs to design and structure large-scale skill development projects as part of their CSR.
What all CSR projects on skill development have been signed recentlyIJ
The first CSR project under the modified Companies Act, 2013 was signed between NSDF, NSDC and Power Grid Corporation of India in January 2015. Since then a large number of agreements have been signed with corporates and PSEs for such CSR projects. Collaborations with SCOPE, USIBC, World Bank and many other organisations to attract CSR funding for skill development. Recently we’ve added couple of Sector Skills Councils to the existing gamut. We add the Aviation SSC, Green SSC and Domestic Workers SSC which are focused towards more niche segments and services.
What are the challenges in roadmap of skilling peopleIJ
The biggest challenge is the aspiration of skills amongst the youths, who must understand the difference that skill development programmes bring to their lives, something which a degree or certificate alone cannot.
Moreover, another challenge that we’ve is vocationalisation of education and implementation of the National Skill Qualifications Framework in collaboration with school education and higher education. We are actively ensuring delivery of standards across all initiatives and bridging the gap between the industry and the academia to build and sustain a cohesive skill ecosystem for the youth and make them employable.
What are the strategies that NSDC is following in dealing with those issuesIJ
NSDC is working closely with the industry on elaborate roadmap to help them partner in the areas of skill development to take care of school dropouts, college dropouts, graduates and post-graduates, engineering, vocational skills, agriculture and allied activities, craft and self-help groups.
Through National Skill conclave which was organised in Mumbai, many corporates have agreed to channelise their CSR fund to skill development, which will be an investment in the country’s future and the industry itself can reap benefits. Recently Government has liberalised the apprenticeship framework in a bid to fast track skill development. PMKVY’s Recognition of Prior learning (RPl) has been rolled out in 22 States in India covering 127 districts in 23 sectors catering to 95 job roles.
How are industries helping in Skill India initiativeIJ
The year 2016 focuses clearly on the dire need for industry to step forward and contribute to Skill India. The industry has to look beyond the areas where they operate and have invested. There needs to be a strong effort towards creating entrepreneurs/self-employment as well. The industry needs to align to the National Skill Qualification Framework, to the 3500 unique National Occupational Standards which have been created and also to the certification process that is in place through National Skill Development Corporation and the Sector Skill Councils.
Upcoming programmesIJ
We will be working in conjunction with the Government to expand Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) to regions where there is less focus on skill development till now. We will also be working closely with the skilling network in the country to ensure short term skill courses are being introduced and run across engineering colleges and polytechnics. This would be a good sustainable business model for many and will add to capacity building for skill development for the youth in India.
We will continue to strengthen our partnerships with other countries and explore way of working with their Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) counterparts to create transnational standards which will be globally accepted. NSDC will also be working closely with entities to ensure a stringent assessment framework so that there is fair evaluation and certification of skills.