The statewide launching of Centre-funded youth skill development Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) on Wednesday marked the beginning of the three-day programme by Jharkhand Skill Development Mission (JSDM) to observe the first World Youth Skills Day.
CSR heads and senior representatives from 18 renowned corporations including, Axis Bank, Hindalco, NABARD, CCl and others congregated to discuss the role their Corporate Social Responsibility programs need to play in developing professional skills among the youth of the state.
“We wish to achieve two motives: firstly, Jharkhand is benefitted more in the field of skill development by the CSR programs being carried out in the state, and secondly, to ensure active involvement of companies in the process and not their funds alone. A lot of companies are already running several CSR activities in Jharkhand’s industrial belt which directly or indirectly help in youth skill development, but now we want them to fulfil some very specific roles in the project,” informed Department for International Development Technical Assistant Amiya Sinha.
The response from the corporations present at the meeting has been good given their prior experience with CSR activities, Sinha said. Others have also shown interest in joining the initiative.
She added, “We want the companies to provide On Job Trainings (OJT) or internships to the trainees under their CSR activities so that they have professional knowhow. Also we have asked the companies to issue National Skills Qualification Framework-compliant certification to their trainees verifying the skills they have garnered. This will be helpful as NSQF is soon to be adopted nation-wide as a competency-based framework.”
Speaking as the Chief Guest during the inaugural session, State Minister for labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development Raj Paliwar, stated, “Previously, skill development projects were coordinated by the Planning and Development Depart, but the state government has assigned these responsibilities to our department from now on. We welcome this step this crucial step and will work hard to fulfil the responsibilities conferred upon us.”