Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Indiens Staatsminister für Kompetenzentwicklung und Unternehmertum, kritisiert die unkoordinierten Maßnahmen seines Landes im Bereich Skill Development.
Lack of focus on outcomes, trainers, inadequate infrastructure & certification nag skill development: Rajiv Pratap Rudy
Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development &
Entrepreneurship today acknowledged that he has a challenging task ahead and
needs support of industry and all stakeholders through their ideas and
suggestions. He mentioned that roughly about 7-10 million people enter workforce
every year and his department is trying to ascertain the exact requirements of
skilled workforce for the future, he said while addressing the session on 'Role
of Skills and Entrepreneurship in India's Growth' at the 87th Annual General
Meeting.
Speaking about various challenges faced by the sector,
the Minister highlighted issues related to multiple bodies undertaking skill
development, lack of focus on outcomes, lack of trainers, inadequate
infrastructure, certification and various other gaps in the present skill
development framework.
He said that skill development in India is
currently being done at multiple levels, with 34 ministries doing skill
development. Thus, integrating these is a big challenge. Mr. Rudy also mentioned
that several states have been rolling out their own skill development
programs.
He stressed that the Ministry is at present not very
clear on what should be the role and ambit of skill development
programs and is working towards setting up an appropriate
framework.
He also raised the issue that while there are set
targets to be achieved, nobody talks about the outcomes. Mr. Rudy spoke of the
need to ascertain the demand requirements for skill, which itself is contingent
upon the growth of economy. Thus, with higher growth, the requirement of
skilling will be even greater. He also mentioned that both domestic and
international demand has to be looked into.
Mr. Rudy asserted
that Prime Minister and the government are extremely passionate about the
subject of skill development and are open to innovative suggestions to achieve
the end objectives. One of the proposals that the government is planning to
consider is setting up of University of Skill Education and
have several Skill Development Institutes aligned under
it.
He also mentioned that the government is trying to ensure
that Skill training and Skill certification can be brought equivalent of a
degree, which will be key to bringing change in the current mindset. Mr. Rudy
said some ideas that his government is considering to tackle the challenges
related to infrastructure and trainers. He explained how the retired defense
workforce can be meaningfully engaged in the skill development work.
With respect to meeting the infrastructure challenge, he suggested full
utilization of public infrastructure. At present 90 percent of public
infrastructure in many regions is being used only up to 10 -
20 percent. He further explained how railways infrastructure can be
effectively tapped for skill development and training purposes. Out of 8000
stations, 7500 stations are connected to rural areas and have the advantage of
electricity and OFC infrastructure. Likewise, he suggested use of Post Office
infrastructure. He suggested industry to adopt 100 stations each in partnership
with the government.
Mr. Sidharth Birla, President, FICCI,
suggested that over the next five years, India needs to move towards the idea of
having a 'Manpower Ministry' which would integrate Skill
Development, Labour as well as Education. He also emphasized the need to have
'Employment Laws' rather than labour laws, to provide greater flexibility to
enterprises.
Mr. Y K Modi, Past President, FICCI and Chairman
& CEO, Great Eastern Energy Corporation Ltd., stressed on the need to have
vocational training after 10th class school education and the need for a mindset
in society with respect to vocational skilling and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Subhrakant Panda, Chairman, FICCI Odisha State Council and MD, Indian
Metals & Ferro Alloys Ltd., emphasized the need to focus on quality of skill
training programs, as a lot of mismatch is being observed today. He also
emphasized the need for skilling of NEET – i.e. Not in Education, Employment and
Training. A lot of rural youth currently belong to this category.