Photo Source: Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu , GoAP |
What drives the people to become transformative in
life and productive in work is actually how far the competition, choices and
efficiency systems functions in the country’s education and training sector.
That matters a lot. During the last decade skilling and re-skilling people have
been a major agenda for both Union and State governments. Many new initiatives
were taken up to increase the skill building capacity realizing the fact that
the window of demographic dividend otherwise would go unutilized. And perhaps, many
felt that failing to use properly the demographic dividend would end up social
and economic disasters. However, it is interesting to note that the Union
government has opened up the policy reforms in the area of skilling and
re-skilling and some of the State governments have really invented its wheel to
reform the skilling and re-skilling through various innovative delivery
mechanisms. Among others, involvement of both private sector and the technology
has played a major role in the process of skilling and re-skilling of large
number of persons in different communities.
One of the main agenda of all the State Governments
have been improving the conditions of imparting skill development to those who
dropout early from school education, existing workers in unorganized sector, the
marginalized sections, etc. Besides, Union government’s schemes on skill
development and training, some State Governments are implementing their own
skill development schemes which are far more effective in some ways. Indeed,
few State Governments have initiated institutional reforms in skilling people
with structured institutional mechanisms. There is uniqueness in each of these
State government’s skill development initiatives.
Andhra Pradesh (Congress
Party was in power till recently)- New Initiatives: established Skill
Development Fund (SDF), created a Rajiv Education & Employment Mission (REEM)
to act as umbrella platform for all the skill development efforts of major departments.
Best performance: Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu (RYK) started in
2010-2011 to convert the non-literate, school dropout, unskilled and unemployed
youth into productive workforce by building their skills and place them in
appropriate jobs. Several focused sub-missions were also set up to target the
persons for skilling and job placement. The major changes the scheme brought-out
include institutional mechanism approach; IT based implementation system; bio-metric
attendance system and post-placement support services. As on April 16, 2014, over
4.95 lakh persons have been trained
and placed with jobs in private sector.
Maharashtra-New Initiatives: established
Maharashtra Knowledge Corporation (MKC)
in 2001 to create new paradigm in education and development through
universalization and integration of Information Technology in teaching,
learning and educational management processes in particular and socio-economic
transformative processes in general. Recently the State has also set up the Maharashtra
State Skill Development Society (MSDS) which
will act as nodal agency for policy planning, execution and monitoring of skill
development initiatives. Best
performance: Through MKC, network of over 5000 Learning
Centers with more than 40,000
computers with state-of-the-art
hardware, software and internet connectivity created; over 8.5
million youth were given state-of-the-art
IT Literacy Training; direct student facilitation services to 3.6
million + University students
through 5,977 colleges in 13
universities in 2 States were provided; more than 8.4 million
youth have been given Online Admissions
and Online Recruitment Services across the State ; over 25,000 youth got
direct regular employment or self-employment opportunities at their own native
places; and about one lakh youths received indirect job opportunities at
their own native places.
Kerala- New Initiatives: established Kerala
Skills Excellence Academy (KSEA) in 2012 as an apex organization for the
skill development initiatives in the State. KSEA facilitates focused training
for high-tech automation driven industries (pneumatics, hydraulics or factory
automation etc.) through specialized Training Centres which will be set up
under existing government Industrial Training Institutes. Construction sector
has created maximum employments in the country in recent years. KSEA has also set
up a Construction Academy with
industry association to conduct training courses, provide accreditations and
certification for construction personnel across the entire spectrum ranging
from architects and civil engineers to masons, plumbers, etc. Kerala is perhaps
the second in the country after Andhra Pradesh to establish sector specific
focus to train construction sector workers in large numbers as they are mostly
in informal in job nature and unskilled or semi-skilled at present.
Manipur-New Initiatives: established Manipur Skill Development Society
(MSDS) in 2011 to impart skill training for youths of
Manipur and convert them from unemployed to be employed with a job that earns
at least Rs.8,000 to Rs.10,000 per month. MSDS
facilitates job oriented skill training offered by reputed institutes/knowledge
partners outside the Manipur (Guwahati, Kolkata, Noida, Delhi, Hyderabad,
etc.). Thousands of persons have been trained and placed with a job in sectors
like Aviation& Travel & Tourism, Ayurveda & Spa Therapy, Beauty
Therapy, Hair & Body make up, ITES/BPO, Retail Management, Front Office
Operation, Food & Beverage, Banking & Financial Insurance, etc.
All of the above initiatives are quite
transformative in nature for varied people in their States. These new
initiatives have played a vital role for millions of people to equip with relevant
skills and enhance the chances of employability in the job market. We need
similar or more pragmatic approach towards skilling or re-skilling of varied
sections so as to improve their living standards.
B.Chandrasekaran
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