New Delhi: The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has identified 343 job roles for improved training in the third phase of its flagship Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey said.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint, the skill development minister noted the highlights of the latest phase of the Narendra Modi government’s skill training scheme.
“These job roles are not new but after much assessment and study of the market’s demand post-Covid, these job roles will help get immediate jobs for those skilled,” the minister said.
The minister also spoke about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh, pointing out that the state police is doing a fair job.
He also spoke about the need to choose words wisely on social media amid an increasing number of sedition cases across the country.
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On job training under the scheme
According to Pandey, of the new roles, 35 have been identified in the agriculture sector, 19 in food processing, 11 in iron and steel, 10 in aerospace, and the rest in other areas like lifestyle, telecom, automotive and rubber.
“We have put focus on job roles related to the field of agriculture, job roles like dairy farm entrepreneurs, aquaculture farmer, sericulturists etc. have been identified. Through their training not only will they be empowered but sustainable agriculture will get a push,” he said.
Other roles identified include Pradhan Mantri Arogya Mitra, frontline health workers, graphic designers, solar lighting technicians, animal health workers and hand spinning workers for the textile industry.
The latest phase of PMKVY is a short duration scheme — one year long — and only those job roles were considered which have ready model curriculum, among other requirements. The identified job roles are in congruence with the current market demand.
The minister also said focus on quality is a possibility now since the last two phases of the scheme have helped build training infrastructure on the ground.
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Empowering district skill committees
In the latest phase, the role of district skill committees (DSCs) — comprising the local district administration — has been empowered. The role of the previously training providers — primarily from the private sector — has been curtailed.
Speaking about this change, the minister said, “District skilling committees existed before as well but they lacked infrastructure and administrative help to function at the best of their abilities.”
He added, “The ministry launched the Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) scheme under which college graduates selected as Mahatma Gandhi National Fellows will not only work with DSCs but will also bring ground data for the effective implementation of upcoming schemes.”
He said, “These fellows will work in collaboration with several IIMs but their work all together will be reviewed by IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur.”
MPs and district administration have been roped in to ensure that skill training happens, he said, adding that Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) have also been asked to start their own short-term learning courses.
On UP Police
Speaking about the case of attempt to murder on three minors in Unnao, which has created a row in the state, the minister who is an MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Chandauli, said his sympathies were with the family of the victims but assured that justice will be brought to them.
“The Uttar Pradesh police is adept at what it does and historically the Yogi (Adityanath) government has done what is right. Look at Kuldeep Sengar’s case, we ensured that justice was done,” said Pandey.
The Union minister also referred to the previous SP and BSP governments in the state, saying that the MPs in these parties were unsuccessful at ensuring justice for people since their focus was on minority politics.
On sedition cases
Asked about the increasing number of sedition cases being filed across the country, the minister said it is of essence that people choose their words wisely on social media.
According to an Article 14 report, the maximum number of sedition cases over the last seven years has been filed in the states of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
To this, Pandey said, “Social media is a strong medium which has a reach over masses. It is important that people choose their words wisely. Nobody should say anything that goes against the fabric of the nation.”
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