Madhya Pradesh to come out with skill development policy

After losing job opportunities in industrial sector during the last decade when industries made huge investment, Madhya Pradesh has decided to come up with a skill development policy.

It has sought support from industries, private skill development institutes, business chambers and non-government organisations to rope in private players to frame a policy for skill upgradation of its unemployed educated youth.

The state, during the last few years, has inked deals with various power biggies which will come up in backward tribal dominated areas like Singarauli but the investment will hardly create jobs for local youth. Much-awaited Bina refinery is likely to create only 300 jobs after a huge investment of '10,000 crore in backward district like Sagar.

The government invited support from industries, private organisations and non-government organisations to revive its age-old ailing skill development programme. It is looking for framing rules and regulations to ascertain norms for joining hands with these institutes for skill upgradation.

“We have lost opportunities earlier and we are yet losing more in areas where investment is coming as we have dearth of skillful employable youth,” said Technical Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma.

The government has formed a sub-committee of ministers which will soon submit recommendations of a national workshop on skill development organised today to the state cabinet. “The cabinet will later consider the suggestions and will announce a policy,” the minister said.

Barring its few hundred age-old odd industrial training institutes (ITIs), the state has no other way to train unemployed educated youth in modern industries that requires a number of skills.

“Even basic computer education training is a distant dream for many in rural areas,” said an industrialist who owns a factory in Govindpura industrial area in Bhopal. He often employs skilled youth from other states like Maharashtra, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh.

“A fund of '100 crore is in log-jam in government accounts as ITIs have failed to impart skillful training to local youth. How can they train a mechanic on modern eight-valve auto engines in their laboratories,” an industrialist said.

The government is also looking for a breakthrough on a major issue of geographical parameters before venturing into modernisation of its skill development programmes. “We need to look into matters pertaining to geographical areas, there are youth who do not want to go out of the state for skill upgradation. If we rope in private partners we will have to ensure various facilities, proper fee structure, security for female trainees,” a senior government official said.

The state has as many as three crore unemployed educated youth, although state claims to attract investment of Rs 3.40 crore in almost in all sectors.