6 Lakh candidates to be skill trained under Utkarsh Bangla scheme in 2018-19

Kolkata : One of the major issues that India, particularly West Bengal, has to constantly address is that of employability and skilled workforce.

Recognizing the importance of placement in the ongoing skill development schemes and in order to maximize the employability of the trained candidates Bengal Chamber and PBSSD (Paschim Banga Society for Skill Development) organized a Sensitization workshop for the CXO (chief Experience Officers) at the Bengal Chamber on Friday at Chamber premises.

This meet was held to give a platform and meeting ground for Industry stalwarts, who understand the Industry demand and the Training providers, who understand the supply challenges and skill availability, to come together and discuss ways and means of ensuring that the skill development initiatives made by Government of West Bengal becomes successful.

Speaking on the occasion, State Minister-in-Charge of Technical Education and Training and Skill Development Purnendu Basu present at the meet stated, “The PBSSD is a nodal department for conducting for all skill development activities in the state of West Bengal. The Present status of our department is a three tier model of training is being adopted. At the Panchayat level, there is vocational training, Possibility of an ITI at the Block level and a Poly technical institute at the sub divisional level which are being benchmarked by the West Bengal Government.””While the technical education, skill development and training department supervises 250 ITIs, 152 polytechnics , 2714 vocational training centres, operating all over the state. The annual target of skilling in the state would be around 6 lakh youth under institutional and non instructional modes,” he said.

Under Utkarsh Bangla 6 lakhs candidates are to be trained in 2018-19. The intake capacity in polytechnics has gone up to 38045 in 2018-19. The intake capacity in ITI has gone of 71379. The passed out figure of vocational (10+2 level) is 25000 and (8+ level) is around 127000, Mr Basu added.

While educational institutes are churning out an increasing volume of graduates, their job readiness and subsequent placement is a matter that needs to be effectively focused on.

An integration of Academia and Industry with proper preparation and skill training is the need of the hour.

There is an urgent need for key stakeholders to come together in mutual partnering models to bridge the gap of skilled work force and create programs to enhance the employability quotient of the state of West Bengal. The Government has already floated many schemes but the task at hand is immense and needs a continued concerted effort.

Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.