Ahmedabad: With the aim of ensuring an employable skilled workforce, APAC News Network organised the National Skill Conclave, hosted by the Labour, Skill Development and Employment Department, Government of Gujarat. Gargi Jain IAS, Mission Director, Gujarat Skill Development Mission, talked about the importance of skilling and re-skilling and the initiative taken by the state to make the youth of Gujarat employable and industry-ready for the future.
Skilling and re-skilling
Skilling and re-skilling are crucial in the dynamic landscape of today’s workforce. Continuous technological advancements and evolving job requirements necessitate individuals to acquire new skills to stay relevant. Skilling ensures that individuals possess the competencies needed for their current roles, fostering productivity and professional growth.
Re-skilling becomes vital as industries transform, often rendering specific skills obsolete. It enables individuals to adapt to emerging trends, seize new opportunities, and mitigate the risk of unemployment. “Skilling is not a one-time activity. We have to keep working on skilling and re-skilling,” Jain said at the conclave.
National Skills Qualifications Framework
The National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) is a framework developed by the government of India to standardise and align the skill development initiatives in the country. Introduced in 2013, the NSQF serves as a quality assurance mechanism for recognising and certifying skills across various sectors and levels. It provides a common reference framework that facilitates the comparison of different qualifications, ensuring consistency and compatibility.
The NSQF categorises skills into different levels, ranging from Level 1 (basic literacy and numeracy skills) to Level 10 (doctorate-level skills). This framework aims to promote a seamless and transparent progression of skills, enabling individuals to move quickly between formal education, vocational training, and work.
Mukhyamantri Bhavishyalakshi Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (MBKVY)
The Gujarat Government, through the Mukhyamantri Bhavishyalakshi Kaushalya Vikas Yojana (MBKVY) at Kaushalya-The Skill University, has introduced modern courses encompassing drone application, remote sensing, precision agriculture, inspection of overhead power lines, search and rescue, real-time road traffic monitoring, Cloud Computing, Data Analytics, Green and Renewable Energy, and Electrical Mobility.
Students who have completed training under MBKVY have gained expertise in cloud computing, data analytics, machine learning, advanced CNC machine programming, drone piloting, program and manufacturing, green economy and renewable energy, solar PV installer-electrical, sustainable and natural farming, solar technician, and automotive courses.
“MBKVY was launched considering the rapid technological development and the challenges in skilling that arise out of it. So we try to cover NSFQ level four, plus courses through MBKV. The courses include artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain and Industry 4.0. This is a scheme which caters to futuristic skill requirements,” Jain said.
Saksham
SAKSHAM, short for Stimulating Advanced Knowledge for Sustainable Health Management, is an undertaking of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India. It is dedicated to offering all health-related training programs to healthcare professionals digitally across the country.
SAKSHAM operates as a Learning Management Information System (LMIS) with the following key features:
- Development as a centralised resource repository for training and teaching materials.
- Implementation of case-based learning methodologies within the health sector.
- Inclusion of documented best practices in health-related teaching and training.
- Functionality as a central database, maintaining records of trained healthcare professionals nationwide.
“Through SAKSHAM, we try to cover very basic skills required by our villages and the youth in the villages, like basic plumbing skills, carpentry skills, auto repair, two-wheeler and three-wheeler repair and gardening,” Jain explained.
Mega ITIs
To address industrial needs and enhance the skills of youth, the state is prioritizing Industry 4.0. The government has approved the development of five mega Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) named “Kaushalya” – Skill University, focusing on Industrial Automation, Advanced Welding, Precision Manufacturing, Electrical and Energy Management, Advanced Plumbing, Furniture Manufacturing, IT, and Emerging Technologies.
These centres, located in Kuber Nagar, Surat, Tarasali, Rajkot, and Dahod, aim to fulfil requirements by 2023-24, contributing significantly to skill development and employment opportunities for ITI, diploma, degree, or experienced candidates.
The estimated investment for this initiative in 2023-24 is around INR 155.00 crores. Additionally, a new initiative for 2024-25 plans to establish mega ITIs in Godhra, Bilimora, Palanpur, Visnagar, Palana/Uttersanda, and Jamnagar, with an estimated investment of approximately INR 167.46 crores.
SANKALP
This scheme aims to incentivise industries to become training partners, offering sector-specific, practical training aligned with standard skilling norms. The objectives include fostering industry partnerships, delivering relevant training, ensuring employment opportunities with government support, aiding industries with in-house trained workforce, sponsoring training costs, and enhancing overall training quality.
“The tagline of the scheme SANKALP is by the industry, for the industry, in the industry. So, we support industries by conducting training programs for the students. They are recruited and trained for a few months. They are also financially aided.”
Local Institute of Vocation Education (LIVE)
In the fiscal year 2023-24, the Department of Labour, Skill Development, and Employment introduced the Cluster Based Local Institute of Vocation Education (LIVE) scheme. This initiative establishes cluster-based local vocational education centres, offering both formal and informal courses tailored to local demand.
Implemented in collaboration with GIDC, Industries Association, and local industries, these centres operate at Government ITIs. The primary goal is to enhance local employment and self-employment by providing skill development, re-skilling, and up-skilling to local candidates through training classes conducted by associations, industries, and government institutions.
This strengthens the structure of government ITIs, ensures a skilled workforce for GIDC and small-scale units in the district, and facilitates employment opportunities for the youth of Gujarat, spanning rural, semi-urban, and urban areas.
Trainees under the LIVE scheme receive a stipend incentive of 50% of the minimum wage through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scheme focuses on short-term courses aligned with local needs, including food packing, PCB assembly operator, edible oil packaging operator, agricultural equipment, organic farming, checker inline and measurement and jigger machine operator.
