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ivelihoods
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and the pedagogy along with skills trained
are decided by the Sector Skill Councils (the
third key pillar), thus ensuring that because
of industry–government coordination,
training for only in-demand skills get sub-
sidised. Private sector companies offering
skill development courses will be offered a
level playing ground with government bod-
ies, and the same standards will be applied
to those wanting to partner with the state
to deliver training (hence, there will be no
crowding out of the private sector from this
public–private partnership social scheme).
56
However, NSDC will have to come to
speed in implementing PMKVY by improv-
ing the partner selection and monitoring
systems to ensure that the difficulties faced in
implementation of STAR and lessons learnt
are effectively used to implement PMKVY.
Industry engagement and
perspective
While placement of candidates after train-
ing has been an issue, the industries have
also been reporting shortage of man power.
The Quarterly Report on Changes in
Employment in Selected Sectors (October
2014 to December 2014) by Ministry of
Labour and Employment notes that, ‘during
discussions with the managements, of sam-
ple units, it is revealed that most of them are
facing shortage of labour in their respective
units. Amismatch between requirement and
availability of skills is also felt by employers.
According to them multi-skilled workers
are needed to compete in the globalised
economic environment’.
57
Since India has
more number of MSME units and they tend
to have a small number of employees, they
need persons withmultiple skills. Steps need
to be taken to identify the group of skills that
each group of MSME unit needs and design
programmes to meet these multi-skilling
requirements rather than single skill training
being imparted now.
During the round table across sectors
conducted by PHD Chamber in December
2014, the key competencies that industries
require in their employees were identified as:
•
Ability to collaborate with others
•
Good knowledge and understanding of
an area
•
Ability to work as a team member
•
Good communication skills
•
Ability to solve problems
•
Practical exposure to the industry and
develop understanding of work life
•
Positive attitude and willingness to learn
•
Ability to deploy technologymeaningfully
•
Language competencies
•
Good organisation skills
•
Adaptability
•
Attention to detail
•
Ethical orientation and respect for
standards
Thus, the requirements of soft skills are
highlighted by the industrial employers.
Many skill development courses have started
including soft skills development.
Government and NSDC recognise that
industries need to be essential partners
in skill development. Industry and cor-
porate sector linkage is being established
through Sector Skill Councils which needs
to be strengthened further. The SSCs are to
act as the effective bridge between indus-
tries on the one hand and the government/
academia on the other so that the needs of
industries are accurately reflected in the
skill development programmes of the gov-
ernment, and the curriculum of academic
institutions.
Industries need to take a more proactive
role so that more apprenticeship oppor-
tunities are created and the industries
starts funding part of the training cost
56
RajivMantri andHarshGupta, 2015, IITs to ITIs—
Modi’s Voucher Revolution in Skill Development?
Live Mint
, 13 August 2015. Available at
.
livemint.com/Opinion/9n9WeI5C5ISJI4FJ6CNBHN/
IITs-to-ITIsModis-voucher-revolution-in-skill-
development.html
57
GoI, 2015, Quarterly Report on Changes
in Employment in Selected Sectors (Oct 2014 to
Dec 2014), Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Government of India. Available at
.
in/content/reports/QES_24th_final.pdf
