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A high-powered sub-group of chief ministers on skill development is likely to recommend exploring legislation on 'right of youth to skill development' on the lines of the one framed in Chhattisgarh.
Officials said the sub-group headed by Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, which held its last meeting on Tuesday, could also suggest earmarking at least half the funds for corporate social responsibility (CSR), specifically for skill development activities, and the need for a long-term policy of 5-10 years on skilling.
Presently, all listed companies have to set aside two per cent of their average net profit of three previous years for CSR activities.
A cess could also be levied for creating a non-lapsable pool to boost skill development. Officials said, the report - which is expected to be presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon - could also suggest creation of a three-tier structure for skill development at the state, district and block levels to ensure convergence of all activities.
"I think it will take 15 days maximum. The committee has also entrusted me with submitting the report on their behalf. NITI Aayog will prepare the final report," Badal told reporters after the meeting. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who also participated in Tuesday's meeting, highlighted the need for creating infrastructure for skill development and attracting investment, especially in the North-East. Gogoi also pitched for more funds for states in the region against the backdrop of their limited revenues and lesser industrialisation.
NITI Aayog had set up the sub-group of chief ministers on skill development in March, following a decision taken at the first meeting of the Governing Council of the body on February 8 this year.
The group was set up to suggest measures to strengthen the state skill development missions to boost capacity and improve standards of skilling at the state level. Apart from Badal and Gogoi, chief ministers of Goa, Gujarat, Meghalaya, Odisha, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu and Tripura are part of the sub-group.
The group was also asked to examine the private sector's role in skill development and suggest ways for improved partnership in curriculum development, delivery mechanism, pedagogy, certification, trainer attachment, apprenticeship training and financing.
The panel was mandated to propose measures to expand the outreach of skilling programmes, particularly in demographically advantageous states, and recommend measures for dealing with shortage of trainers, instructors and assessors.
It also suggested ways to mobilise panchayats, municipalities and civil society organisations, as also the railways and armed forces to participate in these efforts. It was also entrusted with proposing ways of career guidance and post-training placement tracking and suggesting state-level innovative measures for upscaling of pilots, sharing best practices anddissemination and replication by other states/UTs.
HARD DATA ON SOFT SKILLS
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Group to recommend earmarking half of CSR funds for skill development
