Why in the news ?

• The skill development with its poor employment generation being a major concern is keen to have adequate allocation from the Budget.

More on news

• The skill development ecosystem is seeking adequate allocation to help complete the plan to set up model training centres in all districts, and special schemes to support skilling of women and the disabled.

•  The Budget is likely to have an allocation to upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), sops including interest subsidies to boost skilling in ‘difficult’ areas, including the hilly States and those affected by left wing extremism.
• The Budget is also likely to provide for financial incentives for corporates to engage more apprentices, according to sources in the skill development ecosystem.
• There was also the expectation that the Budget would have some measures to take forward the Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE) programmes.
• The SANKALP has a $250 million loan assistance from the World Bank to the Government of India to boost the National Skill Development Mission. 

Kaushal Kendras

• The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship envisaged establishing 650 (one in each district) ‘model training centres’ or ‘Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras’ (PMKKs).
• According to an official statement, so far, allocations had been made for setting up 527 PMKKs covering 484 districts in 27 States.
• "To cover the unallocated districts/parliamentary constituencies, proposals from market were invited through request for proposal", it added.

SANKALP and STRIVE

• The Schemes will address the need for national level architecture to facilitate convergence, efficiency in governance and regulation by setting up national bodies for accreditation and certification of Vocational Education and Training (VET)
• The convergence efforts  of central, state and private institutions will avoid duplication of activities and increase the impact through uniformity
• Such modifications and initiatives is aimed catalysing industry efforts in vocational domain.

SANKALP

• SANKALP scheme envisages to set up Trainers and Assessors academies with self-sustainable models. Over 50 such academies are to be set up in priority sector.
• The programme provides specific incentives to the States to help skill disadvantaged populations through innovative models, with focus on women and persons with disability.
• SANKALP is Rs 4,455 crore centrally sponsored scheme including Rs. 3,300 crore loan support from World Bank.

STRIVE

• The STRIVE incentivises ITIs to improve their performance by involving small and medium firms, business associations and industry clusters.
• STRIVE is a Rs. 2,200 crore – central sector scheme, with half of the scheme outlay as World bank loan assistance.

Source

The Hindu and National Skill Network.