Cabinet note on national skill development policy ready: Minister

New Delhi, Sep 30 (UNI) Union minister for labour and employment Oscar Fernandes today disclosed that his ministry has sent a Cabinet note on the national development policy for approval by the government.

Speaking at a function here, he expressed the hope the Cabinet will take it up next month.

The policy aims at empowering all individuals through improved skills, knowledge and internationally recognised qualifications to enable them access decent employment and to promote inclusive national growth.

The policy will be implemented after the Cabinet approval, without subjecting it to further legal scrutiny, the minister said a seminar organised by Assocham.

He said the government would set up 1,500 more industrial training institutes and skill development centres, particularly in such blocks in the country which have no such facility now.

These facilities would be funded through institutional finances unlike the existing 1,396 ITIs which have been given only Rs 2.50 crore each for upgradation.

Mr Fernandes said the government also plans to use the infrastructure of village level primary and secondary schools by converting them into skill development centres after school hours.

The centre is in touch with states and other local bodies to implement it, he added.

National skill development mission has envisaged a target to train 15 million people during the ongoing 11th plan period and raise it to 50 million by the end of the 12th plan.

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