Union Secretary Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Dr. K P. Krishnan concluded his two days visit of Jammu and Kashmir after reviewing the status of ongoing schemes and programmes under Directorate of Technical Education and Mission Directorate of J&K Skill Development Mission.The meeting was attended by Secretary Rural Development Sheetal Nanda, Secretary Higher Education Talat Parvez, Secretary Technical Education Zubair Ahmed, Director Technical Education Dr RS Sharma, Director, Industries & Commerce Kashmir Mehmood Shah, Director Handicrafts Inderjeet, Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir Sami Arif and other concerned.The Union Secretary was also accompanied by officers of MSDE, NSDC, Sector Skill Councils and officers of Directorate General, Technical Education, GoI.While apprising the Union Secretary about the status of various schemes being implemented in J&K, the concerned officials sought establishment of ITIs in uncovered areas, grant-in-aid for ITIs working under PPP mode and some financial assistance befitting the requirements of ITI sector.
In order to ensure skilling and up-skilling of youth, the concerned officials also requested for the establishment of Skill Development Institute for imparting NSQF compliant trainings in heritage crafts to youth. The officials also sought setting-up of India International Skill Centre for J&K, where candidates can avail skill training and certification benchmarked to international standards. Besides enhanced targets for recognition of prior learning in general skills and specifically for heritage crafts were also sought.While reviewing the skill development scenario of J&K, the Union Secretary assured for enhancing the RPL targets under PMKVY-2.0 and for working out a mechanism of opening of some ITIs in collaboration with the Higher Education Department in some feasible and uncovered areas of J&K.Dr Krishnan also assured to favourably consider the request of the State Government for establishing the Skill Development Institute for imparting training in heritage crafts and allocation of India International Skill Centre to J&K.