The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) is showcasing the achievements and the extensive plans that it has for achieving the goal of Skill India, at the Make in India week which is being held in Mumbai, from February 13th to 18th, 2016. It has set up a pavilion which will showcase the work that has been done under several categories and how it can contribute to the sectors which have a key focus under Make in India.
The Skill India Pavilion will be in Hall 27 (27.13 to be precise).
Manufacturing contributes about 13% to the GDP of the country, ~50% of the overall exports and 12% of the workforce in the India. However, the share of manufacturing in the GDP at 13% is amongst the lowest as compared to many rapidly developing economies. The sector as a whole has been facing shortage of skilled workforce and this factor needs to be given serious consideration if manufacturing was to achieve the growth planned over the next 5 year period.
An analysis of the skill gap across various sub sectors in manufacturing indicates that the sector will need ~97 million skilled workers by 2022. For the plan period 2013-2017, the demand for skilled workers in the sector will increase from ~60 million to 74.86 million. The sub-sectors included under the manufacturing sector include Textiles, Food processing, Auto and Auto Components, Leather and Leather goods, Gems and Jewellery, Construction Material and Building Hardware, Electronics, Pharmaceutical and Chemicals, and Furniture (Source: NSDC’s sector wise skill gap reports 2013).
Commenting on how integral and imperative skills are to the manufacturing sector, Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (I/C) said, “A skilled workforce is the backbone of a successful India. Make in India will see great outcomes only when our youth are skilled to achieve and deliver on the mandates across the 25 priority sectors that are focused upon, under Make in India.”
“Skill development in manufacturing is confronted by four main challenges which need to be addressed in tandem. The four challenges can be grouped into: Capacity for skilling, Quality of workforce, Comprehensive Public Information System and to a certain level even policy issues which have to be looked at from an overall perspective.”
Shri Rudy also stated that the HR community should also ensure that they hire workforcethat is aligned to industry requirement and standards and follows the National Skill Qualification Framework.There are niche sectors like strategic manufacturing (Defence), Aerospace etc.,where we foresee some challenges, as there might be introduction of new technology &we would need a job ready workforce to ensure timely delivery. Hence it is all the more important to align the curricula to the current industry requirements and then push for skill development of resources basis that requirement so that we cater to the need of an efficient and skilled workforce.
The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is also meanwhile focusing on the up-gradation of ITIs across the country and scaling them up to 20,000 in number. The Ministry is working in conjunction with the Industry to insure one skill development center in each district of the country. It also aims at setting up model skill centers which have integrated course curriculum across multiple trades and also on training the trainers in the for a successful skill ecosystem.The efforts will also look at partnering with the MSMEs who are significant part of the manufacturing sector.
A special push on recognition of prior learning is also underway through Pradhan Mantri Kaushal VikasYojna (PMKVY), the flagship scheme of the Ministry.
