Skill Development Corporation to add more partners

The corporation has approved 139 partners, including 42 added last year, while it had offered training to 1 million individuals last year

The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is planning to add 87 new partners to its list of associates besides increasing the skill-training to students three-fold to 3.3 million this year.

According to Dilip Chenoy, CEO and managing director of NSDC, the corporation is expected to add sectors including hydrocarbons, chemicals and petrochemicals, furniture and furnishing and sports in its scope.

Speaking to Business Standard on the sidelines of the 14th National Convention of National Institutions for Quality and Reliability here, Chenoy said, "The details of this year are yet to be finalised. However, NSDC has an internal target to train 3.3 million this year. We are looking at 87 new partners, creating additional capacity of 15-20 million this year," he said.

NSDC has approved 139 partners, including 42 added last year, while it had offered training to 1 million individuals last year.

"Earlier we had a challenge. People did not think we could do skill development in a sustainable manner. As the eco system started growing, people were getting more confident," he added.

On the funding requirements, he said, "We have in National Skill Development Fund over Rs 1,700 crore and have disbursed around Rs 607 crore over the past few years till March 2014."

According to the industry, the fate of the Cabinet Committee on Skill Development is not yet known.