Maharashtra's mega human resource crunch

Requirement till 2022 to be whopping 55 mn; state sets up apex Skill Development Council headed by CM

Maharashtra's human resource requirement will touch 54.6 million by 2022 of which a record 25 million will be in the textile sector and 17.3 million in organised retail.

Further, the manpower requirement in the automobile sector is projected at 5.5 million; 3.4 million in production and manufacturing; 1.6 million in information technology and information technology (IT) and IT-enabled services; 800,000 in construction; 500,000 in agro processing; 300,000 in health care; and 200,000 in hospitality.

These are the findings of a comprehensive skill gap analysis conducted by the state commissioner’s office for self employment and skill development.

The government has also set up Skill Development Council headed by the chief minister for the effective implementation of the state’s skill development plan.

A senior government official told Business Standard, “Based on the skill-gap analysis, the government has set a vision of equipping 45 million persons with employable skills by 2022. The government will assess the demand for skilled manpower and execute comprehensive manpower mapping within the state, which will form the basis of strategising and planning of the skill development plan. Infrastructure facilities will be created at schools, colleges and polytechnics to implement ‘modular employable scheme’ and the concept of ‘finishing schools’ will be executed to impart soft skills to students of all and industrial training institutes.”

Further, the traditional employment exchanges will be converted into the career counseling and guidance centres and they will also act as information hub for the dissemination of vital information related to the state's skill development initiative.

BJP minister said strategies will be formulated to motivate and icentivise the industrial sector, industry associations and NGOs to actively participate and contribute to the skill development plan.

"The government will establish necessary legal framework for the effective implementation of skill development plan. Maharashtra State Skill Development Society, which is headed by the chief secretary, will be nodal agency for planning, execution and monitoring of skill development plan," he added.

In order to put in plan an institutional mechanism for providing access to information of skill inventory and skill maps, the government will create and maintain dynamic Labour Market Information System (LMIS), modernize employment exchanges and develop a state web portal housing data on skill needs of the industry and supply of skills on real time basis.

Furthermore, the government plans to engage industry in planning, preparation and implementation of skill development plan and schemes and also to enhance and strengthen infrastructure and make training more demand responsive.

The state run Maharashtra State Skill Development Society has been appointed as a nodal agency for its implementation and priority will be given on the creation of training infrastructure, availability of trainers, creation of Labour Market Information System.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed the apex Skill Development Council to encourage industry participation.