Proposal to train 10 lakh youth in engineering skills by 2019

HRD Minister said that Rs 28 to Rs 40 per hour per student will also be provided for skill development of such students

Government proposes to use infrastructure of 10,000 colleges after college hours to train 10 lakh youth in engineering skills by March 2019, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

He said a scheme has been formulated under the umbrella of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) to use the infrastructure in engineering colleges for skilling unemployed youth after college hours.

"The scheme has received enthusiastic response from engineering colleges as out the 10,000 existing engineering colleges, 1,500 have responded immediately and their infrastructure will be utilised for skill development after closure," he said replying to questions.

The Minister said Rs 28 to Rs 40 per hour per student will also be provided by the HRD Ministry out of its funds for skill development of such students.

Javadekar said the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) implements this project and skilling is done according to national occupational standards (NOS) prescribed under Ministry of Skill Development.

"It is proposed to extend the facility to 10,000 colleges so that atleast 10 lakh youth can be trained in engineering skills by March 2019," he said.

The Minister said skill requirement of mapping is also being done for each district and a monitoring mechanism is also being put in place for implementing the scheme.

"There is no proposal to concert the existing engineering colleges into skill development centres," he said in a written reply to a question if the existing engineering colleges will be converted.