New Delhi | National
High employability through 37 functional Sector Skill Councils
Government aims to promote high employability through 37 functional Sector Skill Councils covering all the priority sectors having a large workforce, and unorganized sectors.
Presently there are 37 functional Sector Skill Councils covering all the priority sectors, sectors with a large workforce, and unorganized sectors. In pursuance of the National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, the Government has been promoting the establishment of Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) under the aegis of the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) so as to ensure that skill development effort being made by all stakeholders in different sectors are in accordance with actual needs of the industry," said Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in a statement in Loksabha.
"SSCs are industry-led bodies responsible for creating Occupational Standards, developing competency framework, conducting Training of the Trainers’ Programmes, an affiliation of Vocational Training Institutes, conducting skill gap studies in their respective sectors, and most importantly assessment and certification of trainees on the curriculum aligned to National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)," it adds.
One of the key focuses of the government policy has been the promotion of the information technology hardware industry for which it has set up the Electronic Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI).
"Electronic Sector Skill Council of India (ESSCI) has been set up in the domain of Electronics & Hardware. The thrust of the Council is on establishing an effective and efficient ecosystem for development and imparting of outcome-oriented skills for the electronics systems, design, and manufacturing industry (ESDM) including relevant curriculum, courses, information database, delivery system, standardization, accreditation, and certification processes to enhance the employability of the Indian workforce globally," according to it.
"The Council has trained 2.83 lakh persons out of which 1.12 lakh persons have been placed during 2017-18 to 2019-20. Further, the Ministry through its Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS) has been providing long-term vocational training in 137 NSQF compliant trades in 26 sectors including Electronics & Hardware in 15,697 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) across the country. Skill Courses have been designed leveraging new-age technology to meet the requirement of Industry 4.0. and new age courses such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Agriculture, Geoinformatics assistant, Aeronautical Structure & Equipment Fitter, Drone, Solar Technician, Technician Mechatronics, etc have been introduced in National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) and ITIs," it highlights.
"Skill Loan Scheme of the Government being operated by Public Sector Banks provides loan facility to aspirants wanting to do skill development courses aligned to NSQF in any ITIs, Polytechnics or in a school recognized by Central or State Education Boards or in a college affiliated to the recognized university, training partners affiliated to National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Sector Skill Councils, State Skill Development Missions, State Skill Corporation, etc," it notes.
"The amount of loan ranges from Rs. 5,000/- to Rs.1,50, 000/- depending on the course with an interest rate of 11% to 12% and repayment schedule of 3 to 7 years. The loan is sanctioned without any processing fee or collateral security or third-party guarantee. Further, NSDC, through various programs and initiatives, endeavors to provide support to trainees and training partners to facilitate self-employment/entrepreneurship. It has partnered with various Government Agencies and Non-Government organizations for extending benefits such as Mudra Loans, Entrepreneurship Support among others to skilled candidates. It is also helping in creating capacity and strengthening placement cells of the training providers to encourage entrepreneurship," it further adds.
