Training by design in Gujarat

In a bid to tap emerging occupations such as imitation jewellery and beauty salons in regions such as Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surat, the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) here is setting up a self-employment training centre.

With the help of industry and educational institutions such as National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) and National Institute of Design (NID), CED hopes to witness the emergence of micro and small enterprises in such verticals.

To begin with, the centre will train about 200 women to set up their own imitation jewellery businesses.

“The idea is to help unemployed people in regions like Rajkot, Jamnagar and Surat. We are inviting industry experts, faculty and students alike to help us train people in occupations that have been ignored so far but have potential as far as MSMEs are concerned,” said Chandan Chatterjee, director of CED.

Apart from providing training through courses ranging in duration from one week to six months, the government will also support the participants’ businesses in the first year. According to Chatterjee, the government is continually exploring such avenues where self-employment can be promoted in various parts of the state.

“On the one hand, the government is making efforts in skill development through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. On the other, it is also seeing to it that newer avenues for self-employment are opened. Which is why even the participation fee of Rs 1,000 for the self-employment training centre will be reimbursed, apart from financial support for the first year of operations,” said Chatterjee.

Meanwhile, as part of the strategy to boost the supply of skilled manpower, a high-level empowered committee has been established under the chairmanship of the Gujarat government’s industries commissioner, consisting of the Directorate of Technical Education (DTE), Directorate of Employment Training (DET) and CED.

Moreover, the government has appointed IIT Bombay to coordinate and monitor the activities at these anchor institutes, as well as assist in preparing a curriculum for need-based short-term courses.