BOOST TO SKILL INDIA MISSION - Legislation on Right to Skill Likely
New Delhi
Our Bureau
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Panel suggests using funds from the education cess and half of corporate profits for CSR to provide vocational training
The government could frame a new law to grant the youth the right to skill as well as impose a cess to fund its robust Skill India Mission if the recommendations of a high-level subgroup are accepted.In a comprehensive report submitted recently, the sub-group of chief ministers chief ministers chaired by Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, also recommended using funds from the education cess and half of corporate profits set aside for corporate social responsibility to create a non-lapsable pool of funds that could be used to provide vocational training to millions of youth over the next seven years.
“The Centre and all the states may explore the need for enacting legislation on Right of Youth to Skill Development in line with the law in the state of Chhattisgarh,“ the sub-group of chief ministers said in a report.
According to the report, such a right-based legislation backed by robust implementation will generate greater demand, remove the low esteem attached to vocational education and encourage more young persons to seek skill training. “This should be backed by adequate infrastructure and resources especially for less resource rich states,“ the report said. Highlighting the need for adequate funds as a key to the success of the Skill India Mission, the sub-group has recommended some innovative mechanisms for mobilising resources.
“Funds should not be a constraint for Skill India Mission. Today most finances are from the government budgetary resources. There is need to explore innovative mechanisms for mobilising more resources for achieving the vision of the National Skill Mission,“ the report said.
“The funds collected out of education cess could also be provided for vocationalisation of school education given that India has achieved near universalisation of the Primary Education,“ it said.
The sub-group of chief ministers further recommended that half of the 2% of the average net profit of companies earning a net . 5 crore or more may be profit of ` earmarked for skill development activities.
Besides, it proposed to use the additional funds available with Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and building and other construction workers which add up to more than ` . 80,000 crore for skill development for workers and fresh trainees.
The sub-group suggested that even foreign investors investing money in the country should earmark 1% of their investment for skill development in their sector and also adopt ITIs in the vicinity.
“Funds under major flagship programmes can be earmarked for skill development as success of these programmes such as Digital India, Housing for All, Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat depends on the availability of skilled manpower,“ the report said.
Acknowledging that the accessibility of skill training is a huge challenge in the country, the subgroup recommended using the expertise of retired government officers and defence personnel for imparting skills besides using the available machines, technical specialists and premises of public sector units and major private sector units.
The government has set a target to skill 119 million people by 2022 in 24 sectors and reskill the existing 460 million as projected by the National Skill Development Corporation based on its skill gap studies across states.
“The Centre and all the states may explore the need for enacting legislation on Right of Youth to Skill Development in line with the law in the state of Chhattisgarh,“ the sub-group of chief ministers said in a report.
According to the report, such a right-based legislation backed by robust implementation will generate greater demand, remove the low esteem attached to vocational education and encourage more young persons to seek skill training. “This should be backed by adequate infrastructure and resources especially for less resource rich states,“ the report said. Highlighting the need for adequate funds as a key to the success of the Skill India Mission, the sub-group has recommended some innovative mechanisms for mobilising resources.
“Funds should not be a constraint for Skill India Mission. Today most finances are from the government budgetary resources. There is need to explore innovative mechanisms for mobilising more resources for achieving the vision of the National Skill Mission,“ the report said.
“The funds collected out of education cess could also be provided for vocationalisation of school education given that India has achieved near universalisation of the Primary Education,“ it said.
The sub-group of chief ministers further recommended that half of the 2% of the average net profit of companies earning a net . 5 crore or more may be profit of ` earmarked for skill development activities.
Besides, it proposed to use the additional funds available with Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Employees' Provident Fund Organisation and building and other construction workers which add up to more than ` . 80,000 crore for skill development for workers and fresh trainees.
The sub-group suggested that even foreign investors investing money in the country should earmark 1% of their investment for skill development in their sector and also adopt ITIs in the vicinity.
“Funds under major flagship programmes can be earmarked for skill development as success of these programmes such as Digital India, Housing for All, Smart Cities and Swachh Bharat depends on the availability of skilled manpower,“ the report said.
Acknowledging that the accessibility of skill training is a huge challenge in the country, the subgroup recommended using the expertise of retired government officers and defence personnel for imparting skills besides using the available machines, technical specialists and premises of public sector units and major private sector units.
The government has set a target to skill 119 million people by 2022 in 24 sectors and reskill the existing 460 million as projected by the National Skill Development Corporation based on its skill gap studies across states.
Source: Economic Times, 27-10-2015
