Jammu & Kashmir is one among the youngest states of India with more than 54% of the total population below 25 years of age. However our formally skilled workforce is approximately 2% which is dismally low as compared to other states of India. This is universally accepted fact that the economic growth of the country, and strength of any nation is mainly dependent on knowledge and skill based human resource. Looking at rapidly increasing demand supply gap, it is very important for an organization to ensure an adequate supply of skilled manpower and their optimize use. At the same time the population of other states is ageing fast and it is projected to increase 15% by 2030. The market may suffer with the labour shortage due to aging population. J&K has the advantage as compared to other states of India, because it’s youngest population is estimated to be 6 lakh as per 2011 census.
Nevertheless, J&K has a decent literacy rate of 68% as per census 2011. However, the population is projected to be 13,468,313 as per unique identification Adhaar India update by December, 2019. Taking J&K in consideration, Kashmir division has the highest population, followed by Jammu and Ladakh (now a distinct UT). Population of unskilled youth in Jammu and Kashmir is quite large if compared to other states of India. Jammu and Kashmir has second worst unemployment rate among states/Union territories in the country. Governmental efforts especially in the recent past, in the arena of skill development – The National Skill Development Mission – launched by the Ministry of skill Development and Entrepreneurship in July 15 2015, aims to create convergence across sectors and states in terms of skill training activities to ‘unskilled’ and ‘semiskilled’ youth of J&K.
Need for skill development: Livelihood opportunities are affected by supply and demand side issues. On the supply side, state is failing to create enough job opportunities; and on the demand side, professionals entering the job market are lacking in skill sets. This is resulting in a scenario of rising unemployment rates along with low employability
Skill Development Courses: Under NSDC (National Skill Development Council) many institutions across the nation are engaged in highly specialized academic and industry training to promote skills among its students and youth, with a greater emphasis on the improvement of employment opportunities and research activities. The Central Government Initiative to launch a multi-tiered campaign to promote skill development training programs across the various states including Jammu and Kashmir has led to the conception and operation of the National Skill Development Mission in 2015. This important body approves and governs over such constructive initiatives targeting especially the student body and professionals in expanding their understanding and opening new career opportunities for them.
The Government has introduced new schemes along with a revamp of few existing schemes. Some of the more important ones are listed below.
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY): This is a flagship outcome-based skill training scheme aimed at benefiting 24 lakh youth. A monetary reward is provided to trainees on assessment and certification. The steering Committee for PMKVY is responsible for providing directions for implementations.
Implementing agency: The scheme will be run through the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gramin Kaushal Yojana (DDUGKY): The minimum entry age for the scheme has been reduced to 15 years (from the earlier 18). Training will be imparted through 1500-2000 centers to be set up for the purpose over the next two years.
Other Schemes: Under theDeen Dayal Upadhyaya Antodia Yojana (DAY) Scheme, ministry of housing and urban poverty alleviation will undertake skill development of 5 lakh urban poor per year. The Ministry has signed a Memorandum of undertaking (Mou) with NSDC to assist in training. Variety of courses are available under different programmes
NSDC Fee Based Courses (non-schemes), PMKVY Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, PMKK Pradhan Mantri kaushal Kendra, TITP Technical Intern Training, CCTV Installation Technician, Computer Hardware Course, Domestic Data Entry Operator, Handloom Weaver, Fashion Designing, Plumbing, and many more.
The mission aims at vocational training and certification of youth of J&K for a better livelihood and respect in the society.
To fulfil the global and domestic need for skilled manpower, the Government of India has initiated Skill Development Mission of imparting requisite skills training to 500 million people by 2022. The objective of the Policy is to meet the challenge of skilling at scale with speed, standard (quality) and sustainability. It aims to provide an umbrella framework to all skilling activities being carried out within the country, to align them to common standards and link skilling with demand centers.
The policy encourages companies to spend at least 25% of corporate social Responsibility (CSR) funds on skill development, seeks to introduce fee paying model along with skill vouchers, and setup a credit Guarantee fund for skill Development.
The challenge of Skill Development in India is multifold. There is a large proportion of the existing workforce, which needs skill training support of varying levels. While it is estimated that at least 1.70 crore will enter the workforce every year for the next 7 years. The current annual skilling capacity is inadequate to match this demand, with many initiatives un-aligned and sufferings from a lack of coordination. The situation is further complicated by different states having different demographic situations, hence different skilling needs and challenges.” “Vocational Training” falls under the concurrent list, which means state Governments have a key role and responsibility in realizing the objective of “skill India” The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship however, will have a crucial role in coordination between a range of stakeholders—including skill training providers, government at all levels, and the end beneficiaries. Government should give some flexibility to training partners of across country in registration process and other official formalities so that more and more investors will take part in setting up training centers. Most of the investors particularly new ones found it very difficult to apply for the schemes launched by the Government with the result the existing vacuums remains unfilled and consequently the unskilled gap grows more and more. Government should conduct a comprehensive survey to identify the skill gap both in rural and urban areas, so that the schemes launched by the government shall be implemented at ground level according to the needs and capabilities of beneficiaries. And lastly, there is need of better coordination among investors/stakeholders, state and central and government to improve the quality of schemes and should launch the new schemes in order to meet the existing demands across globe, which in reverse will contribute in raising per capita income in our country.
DCI MULTISKILL PVT LTD.
DCI Multiskills Pvt. Ltd. is a registered company established in 2011 and aims at welfare of the society particularly for the youth proportion. The said organization is the training partner of NSDC, affiliated partner of ESSCI, TSSC ETC. DCI is registered under director of technical education, NIELIT, RJA, ITDCI, and DCI is the collaborating institute of Kashmir university. The ultimate aim ofDCI Multiskills issetting up training centers in the urban and rural areas so that unskilled youth get benefitted. To provide them professional, practical and positive learning experience so that they become competent valuable professional to maximize their career opportunities. To create outstanding organization that promote skill excellence and service to communities, to create enabling environment for sustainable livelihood and growth for all. To create pool of skilled trainers in the identified sectors and make them self reliant.
Currently DCI Multiskills have more than 14 branches in different districts of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Till date 9,379 unskilled youth have been trained under various schemes/ projects in at different well equipped and modern training centers of DCI Multiskills supervised by trained and experienced faculty and7,557 candidates got placed in different job sectors which itself is a big achievement and proud moment. Currently the said organization has engaged 60 persons as employs in different capacities , thus employment generation is also an important aim of the organization.
Dr. Shamim Ahmad Wagey is a Post Doc shcolar , University of Kashmir
Dr. Jahangeer Ahmad Bhat is Lecturer, Degree College Mendhar, Poonch