Rs 550 crore skill development scheme for workers announced

New Delhi, May 24 (UNI) The government today announced a Rs 550 crore scheme for school drop-outs, workers, ITI graduates etc to improve their employability and set a target of training one million persons over five years.

The move would ''optimally utilise the infrastructure available in government and private institutions and industry,'' Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said after the Cabinet Commitee on Economic Affairs meeting (CCEA) here.

Briefing reporters after the meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr Dasmunsi said exisiting skills of the persons can be tested and certified under this scheme.

This would also, ''build capacity in the area of development of competency standards curricula, learning material and assessment standards in the country'', the Minister said.

Called the Skill Development Initiative (SDI), the scheme would have 200 modules for employable skills as per industry and labour market demands would be identified and course curriculum developed.

On an average, Rs 5,000 per person would be spent on imparting training and certification of work force.

The direct expenses will be Rs 5,000 crore and administrative cost would be Rs 50 crore.

The minimum age limit for a person to take part in this scheme is 15 years and there is no upper age limit.

The Directorate General of Employment and Training will appoint assessing bodies to assess the competency of the workforce. The assessing body will be an independent agency which will not be involved in conducting the training programmes.

This in turn will ensure quality of training and credibility of the scheme to a great extent, Mr Dasmunsi said.

The Central Government will facilitate and promote training while industry private sector and state government will train the persons.

There will be flexible delivery mechanism like part-time, weekends, full time, onsite/offsite to suit the needs of various target groups.

Courses would also be available for persons having completed 5th standard.

UNI