Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy has said that more than 50% of his Ministry’s budget will be focused towards on job roles related to rural area. Addressing media persons here today, he stated that 18 lakh youth have already enrolled in the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) over the last 8 months which reflects the relevance for skills that his ministry and partner have been able to set for the country’s youth. He said, we had conducted 410 kaushal melas across 29 states reaching out to many of those who needed a direction with regard to employability and employment. To further ensure increase in capacity and scope of skill development, the Ministry of Skill Development will be also ensuring creation of 1500 Multi Skill Training Institutes (MSTIs) which will basically be the new generation ITIs set up in PPP mode. So far there have just been had standalone government or private ITIs. These will be set up in those 2500 blocks and districts of the country which are yet to focus on skill development and do not have ITIs.
He said, the government has also partnered with World Bank to upgrade industrial training in the country not only by extending monetary support but also ensuring best practices being implemented. Skill Training for Employability Leveraging Public Private Partnership (STELPPP) with the proposed assistance of USD One billion from World Bank and Skill Training for Industries Value Enhancement (STRIVE) with an estimated cost of USD 537.50 million.The formation of the National Skill Certification Board is also another big step in further strengthening the skill ecosystem. It will see representation from both government and industry, which will collectively enable a joint framework for quality skill assessment.He said, with the implementation of common norms with effect from April 1, 2016, there will be more synergies that will be seen across ministries, departments and states on skill development following one norm, one common outcome and tracking mechanism.
Shri Rudy also said that the government will work to deliver Entrepreneurship, Education and training in 2200 colleges, 300 schools, 500 government ITIs and 50 Vocational Training Centres. Aspiring entrepreneurs will be connected to mentors and credit markets. The Minister said that Budget 2016 seems promising for India’s youth – whether it is about quality of education, focus on skill development, improving teaching and research outcomes, emphasis on job creation, creating an ease of doing business or promoting entrepreneurship. He said, we should not look at the budget only from the direct facilitations point of view such as tax relaxations especially at a time when we have to maintain the fiscal deficit at 3.5%. Instead, it is clear that the Government’s focus is to strengthen the economy through indirect methods such as infrastructural development, healthcare, focusing on job creation, skill development, and micro small and medium enterprises. Shri Rudy said that the budget aims towards bringing parity across all sections for an overall economic growth of the individual and the country. There is a clear effort to strengthen the economy through substantial investment in infrastructural development, rural India, roads and connectivity, job creation, skill development, and micro small and medium enterprises.