Ramadorai appointed advisor to PM on Skill Development

New Delhi, Jan 31 (PTI) The government today appointed SRamadorai, former CEO of leading software company TCS, asadvisor to the Prime Minister for the National SkillDevelopment Council.

Ramadorai, currently vice-chairman, TCS, will hold therank of a Cabinet minister, the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO)said in a release.

He is the second senior IT professional from privatesector to be appointed on such a high post. Earlier, thegovernment had appointed Nandan Nilekani of Infosys aschairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India(UIDAI).

The Council, which is headed by Prime Minister ManmohanSingh, seeks to develop a strategy for skill development atthe national level along with variations at the state leveland formulate strategies to address the skill deficit.

"Investment in skills is critical for benefiting from thedemographic dividend of India. It is already one of theyoungest nations in the world with a majority of people belowthe age 30," the release said.

As CEO and managing director of TCS, Ramadorai wasinstrumental in building the company into a USD 6 billionglobal software and services company with 144,000 trained andqualified professionals.

"He has been handpicked by the Prime Minister to advisethe National Council on Skill Development", the statementsaid, adding the council would also try promote greater use ofInformation Communications Technology in the area of skilldevelopment.

The Council has been operating as a three-tier structurewith the apex entity being chaired by the Prime Minister; acoordination unit chaired by the Deputy Chairman, PlanningCommission; and a National Skill Development Corporationlocated in Ministry of Finance specifically focusing onsupporting the private sector.

The Planning Commission will be the nodal agency forproviding administrative, logistic, planning and budgetingsupport to the office of Adviser to the Prime Minister, therelease added.