Skill development will be the backbone of Atmnirbhar Bharat and Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan: Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey

Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, today said that skilling, up-skilling and re-skilling of India’s workforce would play a crucial role in the success of the Government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Garib Kalyan Rozgar Abhiyaan.

The government is soon to get approval on the next phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, focused on demand is driven skill development, digital technology and skills about Industry 4.0.

“We need to focus on employment in the current scenario, and that’s why we will be focusing upon demand-based skilling in the next phase of PMKVY, where we have added certain aspects like – strengthening district skill committees and connecting with local employment offices. District Commissioner and State Skill Development Missions (SSDMs) will also have a crucial role to play and will be connected to the industry bodies so that we can bridge the demand-supply gap and impart relevant training to the migrant labourers who have returned to their home state,” said Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey.

He also said that if required, the government would give permission to run PMKVY centres and Industrial Training Institutes in 2-3 shifts.

He urged the industry to expand their operations from big cities to small districts and villages and invest in upskilling and re-skilling the youth across rural India which would help make a giant leap towards the success of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.

“We invite private sector people to come forward and impart training and focus on being vocal for local product and services empowering youth to drive local economic growth.” Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey added

He further said, “I appeal to the industry to be more compassionate towards the migrant labour, do their counselling, treat them respectfully and facilitate those who intend to return and get back to work.”

Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey said, “Our neighbouring country is trying to remove its blot and working on expansionist policy, but it is also able to understand now that this time around it has a strong opponent and it will further get to know this thing more clearly as our entire nation stands united.”

He further informed, “We plan to simplify further the apprenticeship which is the on-the-job model of skill training so that industries do not hesitate in absorbing apprentices and they do so enthusiastically. We shall invite suggestions from the industry on that, our proposal is going ahead with whatever discussions we took in the past in this regard.”

The Minister also said that his Ministry is working closely with other central ministries and state governments on compiling data of skilled persons across the country which would be made available at a single click. “The database of skilled youth in the country will also the registered data of people who have come in from overseas as a part of reverse migration. NSDC, the implementation arm of MSDE, has come up with an effective application called ‘Swades’ whereby both Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Civil Aviation is also cooperating in collating this information and segregating the workforce basis their skills so that they can later be connected with opportunities of employment within the country and add to their personal and nation’s overall growth.”

He stated that about 20,800 people have connected through the Swades app already. “In future, we plan to use their skill on a bigger scale and also seek the help of industry bodies in utilising their skills and promote them as trainers as we go ahead.”

“In the wake of the Covid-19 global pandemic we need to move ahead with innovative methods, especially in the industrial sector, there is a need for a big change in terms of the overall mindset and approach towards doing business as we need to give more importance to use of digital technology,” said the Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey.

In his welcome remarks, ASSOCHAM president, Dr Niranjan Hiranandani said, “Industry will willingly work in tandem with the government to jointly fight this battle and support the Hon’blePrime Minister in his vision of New Atmnirbhar Bharat.”

Maninder Nayyar, co-chairman, ASSOCHAM National Council on Skill Development said, “Post Covid-19, new sectors and avenues of working are set to emerge, requiring new levels of skill, as such government and industry need to predict the possibilities of the future and prepare for them today itself.”