CREDAI Conclave 2015: Need To Create Aspiration For Skilled Jobs In India, Says Rajiv Pratap Rudy

India ranks among the lowest when it comes to skilled labour in the country. Admitting this, Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (Independent Charge) Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Wednesday (December 16) said at the CREDAI Conclave 2015 that the government had already taken steps in the right direction. The need of the hour is to create an aspiration for skilled jobs in the country.

"Skill development ministry is working to improve income of people from low economic strata,” he added.

Numbers unveiled

According to the data from the 68th Round of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO), only 4.69 per cent of India's total workforce has undergone formal skill trainings, compared with 52 per cent in the US, 68 per cent in the UK, 75 per cent in Germany, 80 per cent in Japan, and 96 per cent in South Korea.

Based on the Census 2011 and NSSO (68th Round) data, it is estimated that 104 million fresh entrants to the workforce will require skill training by 2022, and 298 million of the existing workforce will require additional skill training over the same period.

Steps being taken

With an aim to have 20 per cent of workforce on construction sites, certified by Construction Skill Development Council of India (CSDCI), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India (CREDAI) and CSDCI at the Conclave 2015.

Moreover, to bridge the gap between a growing demand and a shortage of skilled manpower, the government also launched National Skill Development Mission in July this year. The programme is expected to provide an institutional framework to the Centre and states for implementation of skilling activities in the country.