Gadkari calls for low-cost, job-oriented training to youth

Maritime organisations should come forward to impart job-oriented skill training to youth as the sector is expected to generate over one crore job opportunities, the government today said.

"Maritime organisations should work out skill development solutions that could provide low-cost, quality training to the youth and enable them to get jobs. This exercise for bridging the skill gap in the sector holds special significance as the maritime sector is expected to generate over a crore of employment directly and indirectly," Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari said chairing an Advisory Committee meeting on Skill Development.

The committee was constituted in April to help organisations under the Shipping Ministry identify existing skill gaps and work out road maps for up-scaling their skill development initiatives, Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.

Gadkari called upon the committee members to help maritime organisations achieve the goal of job-oriented skill training.

He said the projects for modernisation and capacity enhancement of ports, setting up of industrial clusters, port connectivity projects and development of inland water transport are expected to throw up a wide variety of jobs, and it is essential to equip the youth and build their capacity to take advantage of this golden opportunity.

The Advisory committee has been tasked to review the existing skill development initiatives undertaken by the organisations under the Ministry of Shipping and identify key challenges/issues and areas of synergies besides assessing the future skill and manpower requirements in the organisation and guide the organisation in preparing a roadmap including their vision, mission, and annual skilling plans.

The statement said based on the roadmap it will suggest measures to scale up the skill development initiatives, identify existing schemes of the Central/State Governments which can be utilised for skill development initiatives, provide recommendation to foster knowledge sharing and in assimilation and incorporation of international best practices.

It said the government has put in a lot of emphasis in the skill development of the people.

The statement said Sagarmala, the flagship programme of Ministry of Shipping, also has provision for skill development of the coastal community.

"This will help in generation of jobs and also help to increase the living standard of people," it said.