Last year, just three corporates — Mahindra and Mahindra, Asian Paints and Jay Bharat Maruti — had teamed up with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). This year, the target is to rope in five corporates with an aim to take the training capacity to around 50 million from the current eight million a year.

NSDC sees an urgent need to speed up and include multi-sectoral companies, CEO Dilip Chenoy told Business Line .

“Large corporates don’t do things in small measures. They have the best training systems in place, and by teaming up with them, we realised we could create the best training facilities, and ensure the best curriculum,” he said. He added that corporates can help bring in “process systems, management systems, and help us reach scale.”

Each year, NSDC is given a target by the Government to skill a certain number of people. “Last year, it was 10 lakh. We trained an additional 50,000. This year’s internal target is 33 lakh,” he said, adding that the Government is set to enhance the target after the Budget.

Modi vision Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly keen to ensure that India catches up with developed countries which have accorded priority to promoting skilled manpower. The Government is also said to be looking at creating a separate ministry for promoting entrepreneurship and skill development.

With 65 per cent of the population in India below 35 years of age, promotion of skill development would provide ample job opportunities to educated unemployed youth, said Chenoy.

“Earlier, we got the Future Group into training, as well as Aptech and NIIT, Gram Tarang at Paralakhemundi in Orissa, LabourNet, a non-governmental organisation for entrepreneurs based in Bangalore, IL&FS, the Centum Work Skill, a unit of the Bharti Airtel Group, among others.

“Along with the Food Processing Sector Skill Council of India, Godrej is actively involved in training and employing one million people over the next few years. These companies are employing these skilled youngsters,” added Chenoy.

More sectors Stating that some 315 people have passed out in the first batch of retail skilling, he said all have been employed in retail outlets such as Vijay Sales and Marks & Spencer.

“We are trying to focus on un-serviced sectors such as furniture fitting and chemicals. Though we have 31 sector skill councils that have received approval, we are looking at adding another 6-8 sectors which have a high growth potential such as tourism and hospitality, and chemicals management,” he added.

Placements done NSDC has 1,200 centres spread across Maharashtra alone. Last year, around 1.25 lakh youngsters had undergone training at these centres, Chenoy said, adding that “around 75,000 to 80,000 of these are already placed. We have centres in 350 plus districts across the country. “We have started 200 (training) schools in Haryana, and have expanded it to Himachal Pradesh, UP, West Bengal and Maharashtra and hope to take the idea pan-India after the Budget.”

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