Building a nation of skilled people: Mantra for the days to come
When it comes to training people, quality gets an upper hand over quantity. MSA Kumar the Chairman of CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) stated that the syllabus followed by many Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) was created in the 1960s.
In fact, the ancient system of training in a particular subject no longer applies. There is a growing need to train students in multiple skills. Arulselvan the COO of Nettur Technical Training Foundation (NTTF) stated that for instance, maintaining medical equipment requires knowledge of mechanical, electrical, electronics and embedded systems. These, together, form a whole new field of specialisation called mechatronics.
The management also urged the industries to play a role in setting the syllabus. Various ‘sector skill councils’ have identified skills they require and mapped it to job functions. These are used as guidelines when private institutes come up with their curriculum.
However ensuring quality and the cost of training is a difficult task for these skill development companies. Ensuring that quality standards are met so that certificates can be awarded is another challenge. For example, if the Government funds a training institute based on the number of people trained, some institutes may lower the standards for passing examinations.
According to Arulselvan of NTTF, delivering quality training can be expensive. The cost of training a welder runs to between ₹6,000 and ₹8,000 a month, including equipment, electricity, consumables and teacher salaries. Such high costs are prohibitive for many trainees, who tend to be from low-income families.
Companies such as L&T provide accommodation to migrant employees, reducing the burden. Also, many city-centric businesses, especially BPOs, are moving closer to small towns, creating local opportunities and reducing costs.
Source- The Hindu Business Line
Chairman of CII, Confederation of Indian Industry, electrical, Electronics, embedded systems, Industrial Training Institutes, mechanical, Nettur Technical Training Foundation
