Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry in association with Ramakrishna Mission Shilpamandira, Belur and Don Bosco Technical Institutes, Liluah & Part Circus organized a Seminar on “Changing Face of Skilling in India – Trends & Prospects” with Shri Purnendu Basu, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Department of Technical Education, Training & Skill Development, Govt. of West Bengal as the Chief Guest today.
Stressing on the critical skill gaps, the Hon’ble Minister spoke about the importance of skill development to create small scale job providers rather job seekers as also to skill them appropriately to change the scenario of rural and peri–urban Bengal. This would arrest rural–urban migration and create meaningful economic activities in the state.
Shri Purnendu Basu mentioned particularly about targeting the crores of school dropouts and class VII pass outs. He focused on skilling for rooftop gardening, healthcare & wellness personnel, ayahs & domestic help for babysitting, care giving for senior citizens, semi skilled power loom workers and others.
He expressed concern about the changing focus and trend towards the service industry, which had destroyed traditional certain skill sets, enjoyed by the people in Bengal, from the districts of Howrah and other, in particular.
He urged MCCI and the business community to come forward in mapping of skill requirements to draw the attention of the policy makers, so that crores of needy citizens could be benefitted. He also mentioned about 16 skill sectors signing MoUs for national level Assessments and Certification and also about creation of Rs 100 cr. Corpus for farmers for skilling by the Government of West Bengal.
Speaking on mismatch of demand–supply requirements and outcome based training, Swami Vedatitanandaji Maharaj, Correspondent, Ramakrishna Mission Shilpamandira, Belur pointed out that skill development was not about creating a few job seekers, it was nothing short nation building.
Fr. Tomy Joseph, SDB, Rector, Don Bosco, Liluah and Principal, Don Bosco Technical School, Liluah spoke about bridging the skill gaps and importance of mentoring.
Shri Kalyan Debnath, Chief Executive Officer, Peerless Skill Academy emphasized on skill development for the huge untrained and unskilled ‘blue’ brigade, to save demographic dividend from being a demographic disaster.
The Session was chaired by Shri Ramesh Agarwal, President, MCCI, who highlighted on the requirements of skill development, in the face of changing technologies.