CAMIT President Says " Public-Private Partnership in Skill Development"
Nagpur, India- Dr. Dipen Agrawal, President of the Chamber of Associations of Maharashtra Industry & Trade (CAMIT), has urged the government to announce Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the training and skill development sector to create a pool of skilled and employable manpower.
Dr. Agrawal met with Jayant Chaudhary, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, to discuss the issues and suggestions from CAMIT regarding skill development.
The Minister listened attentively as Dr. Agrawal explained the industry's shortage of trained personnel. He proposed establishing Skill Development Centres and industrial partnerships to provide proper vocational training to the youth. He noted that while 90% of youth aged 15-29 are employed in skilled jobs, many are not adequately trained. Dr. Agrawal emphasized the importance of supporting startups and entrepreneurs, securing sustainable funding, and standardizing placement verification across all skill development schemes, regardless of the funding ministry.
He also suggested increasing the seating capacity of existing ITIs and opening new residential institutes in tier II and III cities. Dr. Agrawal highlighted the role of private players in aligning training programs with market demands to enhance employability. He advocated for creating state-of-the-art institutes and designing area-specific training courses to cater to local industries, such as power generation, cement, steel, cotton processing, and solvent extraction in the Vidarbha region, and the sugar industry in the Marathwada region. Extensive outreach programs were also recommended to raise awareness about training opportunities and benefits.
Dr. Agrawal emphasized that skill development should not only focus on individual skills but also address the needs of local industries by creating a skilled and trained workforce. He pointed out that Maharashtra already has the highest in-migrant population in the country, highlighting the urgent need for these initiatives.
Minister Jayant Chaudhary appreciated the suggestions and assured that they would be considered. He mentioned that the National Council of Skill Development and the National Skill Development Coordination Board could bring about significant changes in the National Policy on Skill Development after departmental study.
This information was shared in a press release issued by CAMIT.
