Wrong targets: Modi govt skills training programme wasted public funds

Govt has been unable to meet its annual targets for any but one of the past 5 years

India’s goal of skilling 400 million people under the National Skills Development Programme 2015 is too large, unnecessary and unattainable, a government-appointed committee has found.

The previous goal of skilling 500 million people, set in 2009 under the National Policy on Skill Development, was also fixed without any basis, the report by the Committee for Rationalization & Optimization of the Functioning of the Sector Skill Councils (SSCs), issued April 25, 2017, said. SSCs are autonomous, industry-led, sector-specific skill builders that ensure skills training meets employer needs.