West Bengal to tie up with big brands for skill development

This was disclosed by West Bengal’s Minister of Technical Education & Training Ujjal Biswas at the CII Eastern Region-organised Skill Conclave in Kolkata.

Biswas said: "West Bengal is known for its rich pool of superior intellect. The State Government wants to transform our intellectual wealth into top class skill resources. The vision is to make West Bengal the Skill Capital of the World."

He said West Bengal has emerged as the Best State in the recent 50th All India Skill Competition 2014 organised in Delhi by the Union Ministry of Labour & Employment.

This is the second successive year West Bengal topped the chart, the Minister added.

Skill training in CAD/CAM has been launched in 62 Vicational Training Centres with technical assistance from Seimens and plus-two students are receiving training with assured opportunities for internships and jobs, the Minister revealed.

“A skill programme on hospitality has been initiated at kalimpong. About 770 trainees are placed in well-known chain restaurants like Café Coffee Day outlets with reasonable wages and service benefits,” he said.

The Minister also said as part of its mission to enhance employability and produce quality workforce, the West Bengal Government will work closely with National Skill Development Corporation for job-linked programmes.

“We have decided to set up 37 polytechnics and 92 Government it is. We call upon the private sector companies to join us in this mission,” said Biswas.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Viresh Oberoi, Chairman, CII Eastern Region & CEO & Managing Director, mjunction services ltd, said, “The government and corporates must come together to train and skill a vast number of young people waiting to join the workforce. There is no other way to achieve sustainable, profitable growth.”

“India's well-documented growth story can leap forward if more and more corporate increasingly encompass this large picture, which will ensure competitiveness and responsible, inclusive and sustainable growth. Let me assure you that CII Eastern Region in the coming year will strengthen its endeavors in Eastern India,” he said.

“CII is about to initiate one rural Skill Gurukul in Purulia, in collaboration with PanIIT Alumni Reach For India (PARFI). It is our collective duty to create productive jobs. To make sure that happens, the country needs enough skilled workers. Skill development has become a necessity for corporate,” he added.

The National Skilling Mission, Oberoi said, envisages adding 500 million skilled Indians by the year 2022.

“While 150 million are expected to be contributed by the private sector, working under National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), 350 million will be contributed by 18 different Ministries of the government,” he said.

Abhijit Roy, Chairman, Education & Skill Development Sub Committee, CII-ER & Managing Director, Berger Paints India Ltd, explained the objectives of the Skill Conclave.

“Our aim is to understand the current scenario in terms of demand and supply of skilled human resources. We would recommend policies concerning skills development at both state and national levels and also define the role and contribution of the Industry in skill enhancement. The ultimate goal is to help bring India closer towards the goal of Making India the Skills Capital of the World,” he said.

Umesh Chowdhary, Chairman, CII West Bengal State Council and Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Titagarh Wagons Limited, said CII is working with the state government in realizing the dream of making this state a skilled and trained one.

“Last year in September, CII signed four MoUs with Kolkata, Chandernagore, Durgapur Municipal Corporations and Hooghly-Chinsurah Municipality to train marginalized urban youths in various trades. The training is going on and till now we have trained more than 200 candidates,” Chowdhary said.