“Skill development is top priority for the Union government. We are completely overhauling the system by introducing several new schemes and instituting systems and processes,’’ Union Skill Development Minister Ananth Kumar Hegde said in Belagavi on Tuesday.
“We need alternatives to conventional education modules. That is why we are focusing on different verticals like entrepreneurship and skill development,’’ he said.
He said, at the Gogte Institute of Technology (GIT), that the government would set up a four-tier system of training youth in skills, start training centres and universities and introduce Indian Skill Development Service (ISDS), a new civil service cadre for skill development.
The short-term and long-term skill development courses will train youth in traditional Indian vocations and in emerging global technologies. “Earlier, skill development was part of the Labour Ministry. Three-and-a-half years ago, we separated it and made it into a full fledged ministry. We are also shaking up the management and governance to introduce new systems and processes.’’
Reform
According to him, the Union government is bringing out comprehensive reform in the way skill development is perceived. For short-term courses we will have the Prime Minister Koushalya Yojana that trains boys and girls for three or six months and gives away certificates. For long-term courses we have the Prime Minister Koushalya Kendra that conduct courses of one year or more. Such centres will be set up one each in district. State government have to run them, with private partnership, by getting a 33 per cent grant from the centre.
There will be Indian Institute of Skill on the model of IITs and IIMs, one in each State.
“Above that will be the skill development universities that will cater to youth who need advanced training as per demands of the industry. Around seven universities are planned across the country. We are seeking expressions of interest about such universities. In Karnataka, RV College of Engineering, JSS College of Engineering, KLE Society, and GIT have all shown interest. We will talk to them and go ahead,’’ he said.
At the national level, there will be a India international skill centre. This will introduce global skill-sets in emerging technologies to Indian youth. These institutes at various levels will impart skills in 40 sectors ranging from agriculture to space.
All these institutions will be set up on public-private partnership basis. “We don’t want to open an institution by spending around Rs. 50 crore and then face allegations that its quality is falling. We will be facilitators and not get into the business of opening institutions,’’ he said. He further said “We don’t have a 70 year legacy. We are just three-and-a-half years young. But we have a clear vision and we are building on it slowly. These are just baby steps. We will go further than most people expect”.
As part of Skillathon, he spoke to students of KLE group of institutions. At GIT, he flagged off Skill on wheels, a mobile training unit, by driving one of the cars.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
