Skills and Knowledge are the driving forces of economic growth and social development of any country. Countries with high and better levels of skills adjust more effectively to the challenges and opportunities of globalisation. Shortages have already emerged in a number of sectors. Large-scale skill development is an eminent and imperative requirement.
There is a growing sense that past strategies of skill development need to be upgraded, both in terms of quality and quantity in order to deal with new challenges that the economy faces. The challenge is not merely of producing more skilled persons needed by the economy, it is also of ensuring simultaneously the skill development initiatives which address the need of the huge population, by providing knowledge with skill that make them employable and help them secure the decent work. The challenge of translating the benefit of high rate of economic growth into a faster pace of poverty reduction which is inclusive growth and focuses on productive employment and decent work, remains formidable. Skill development of persons working in the unorganised sector is a key strategy in that direction.
Planned development of skills must be underpinned by policy which is both comprehensive as well as national in character. Policies that do not accommodate or reconcile the perceptions of different stake-holders across the country cannot serve the goal of national development effectively. A national policy response is therefore needed to guide formulation of skill development strategies and coordinated action by all concerned. Furthermore, in view of linkages between employment, economic growth and skill, it is important that the policies in the area of skill development be linked to policies in economic employment and social development areas.
Now is the time when a much brighter future for all people is within its reach. Skill development will help to promote this potential. Development and articulation of a national policy on skill development is thus a matter of priority.
The challenges on skill development are many. These are of:
- The size of the task in building a system of adequate capacity
- Reducing skill mismatch between supply and demand of skills
- Diversifying skill development programme to meet the changing requirements.
- Ensuing quality and relevance of training
- Building true market place competencies rather than mere qualifications
- Creating effective linkages between school education and skill development
- And many more such challenges
The national policy on skill development is aimed at responding to these challenges and providing direction for the future.
DGE&T under Ministry of Labour & Employment has taken lead and initiation in collaboration with ILO, New Delhi to formulate the National Policy of skill development & Employment. Several workshops, consultation meetings with many stakeholders, including Central Govt, State Govt, Industrial association bodies, experts and Industry Captains were held and the findings of these meetings & workshops were also discussed with the inter- ministry groups. Both these policies may become one of the hallmark efforts of Ministry of Labour & Employment in tune with demand and challenges in the skill development area all over the World, once these policies are approved and implemented.
Let us hope Govt shall take the necessary action in this regard to make it possible to implement these policies to meet the skill development challenges and employment needs.
— The author is ex-deputy director general, DGET, ministry of labour and employment. He retired in 2008.
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