No funds constraints for skill development: UP

UP aims skilling 4.5 million youth by 2017

Uttar Pradesh government, which has rolled out public private partnership (PPP) model for employability of 4.5 million youth by 2017, today reiterated funds constrains would not impede skills development mission.

UP minister of state for vocational & skill development Abhishek Mishra said the state aimed to be on the top in skills development and there was no funds crunch.

He was speaking at a workshop organized by the union ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here as part of the national awareness campaign on implementation of amended apprenticeship training guidelines.

CII had earlier led the process of nationwide consensus generation that a self-regulated and industry friendly apprenticeship regime would lead to a sharp increase in the number of apprentices voluntarily trained by industry. These workshop seek to advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Make in India' & 'Skilling India'.

The Apprenticeship Act of 1961 has now been amended to address the concerns within the skill eco-system make it more responsive to industry and youth.

UP secretary vocational education & skill development Bhuvnesh Kumar said apprenticeship was the most relevant 'skilling' scheme to achieve higher employability.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) regional head Jayant Krishna, who is also the Lead Task Force on Apprenticeship Reforms - CII said studies had proven given the hands-on focus during apprenticeship, the industry directly benefits from enhanced skills, higher productivity and professionalism once apprentices join workforce.

He claimed if driven well, apprenticeship could potentially become a powerful vehicle under the overall umbrella of the Skill India Mission launched by the PM.

Meanwhile, T C Saravanabava, Deputy Director General, Apprentice Training, union ministry of skill development & entrepreneurship said the old system of trade-wise and unit-wise regulation of apprentices had been dismantled and substituted with a minimum target equivalent to 2.5% of employees with a maximum limit of 10%.