'1 lakh youth to undergo govt's apprenticeship programme'

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has signed a pact with Yashaswi Academy to train 1 lakh youth over the next three years for better employability chances.
Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the aim is to expand the number of apprentices in India by taking necessary steps required to motivate today's youth as well as employers to participate in the programme.
The government has recognised the apprenticeship programme as part of its skill initiative to increase and improve training for Indian youths and help them attain better jobs, an official statement said quoting the minister.

He said, youth will be the biggest beneficiaries as it significantly improves the chances of employability and market value as well as their capability to become self-employed.
"Apprenticeship will now essentially going to be a 'win-win' for all stakeholders," it said.
In order to make things simpler for the industry as well as the youth, a web-based apprenticeship portal was recently launched to bridge the gap between students and industry where all companies would be required to publish their trade-wise requirement of apprentices.

"Apprentices would also be encouraged to apply online. This will enable the beginning of the online interaction among apprenticeship applicants, companies and the government," it aded.

The committee, which for the first time held its meeting
outside Delhi, also emphasised on the need for comprehensive reforms in the role of sector Skill Councils and focus on the SSC Transit 2.0 Programme.
Rudy said, "It is high time we start focusing on industry collaboration right to the district level across the country. We have to focus on the problem and find the solution than keep identifying the problem and then plan for the solution.
"The IT revolution in India took a long time to be at the heights where it is today, but our Skill Revolution has to happen at a much faster pace as we are sitting on a huge demographic dividend which we can reap right now," he said.

The committee also proposed that more model skill centres like the one launched in Bhubaneswar yesterday, should be opened up across states so that there is visibility of brand 'Skill India'.
Rudy said MPs should make land/buildings available in their constituencies and the National Skill Development Corporation along with its affiliated partners in the region will assist in setting up state-of-the-art skill centres to provide courses to the local youth and make them job ready.
The operational cost of the centre will be borne by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Rudy said the Ministry has proposed two schemes to support entrepreneurship education and guidance for the path to growth for new and young entrepreneurs.