In 2014, the United Nations declared July 15th to be celebrated as World Youth Skills Day.
This was done in recognition of tech advancements and shifting labour market dynamics which require our youth to have agile and adaptable skill sets. There is consensus that TVET i.e. Technical and Vocational Education and Training will help the youth navigate these changes well and help them find the right employment opportunities.
Exactly one year on in 2015, July the 15th, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the Skill India Mission.
As per Skill India Mission (SIM) website, its sole aim is “The sole aim of Skill India Mission(SIM) is “To spread skillful education to people from all walks of life by removing the fear of technologies and technical sciences. Providing advanced and quality training within the reach of everyone from lower-middle to upper-middle class and sharpening interpersonal and career-oriented skills and competencies with up-to-date training to make the career smoother.”
The SIM falls under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (link to the website) and here is the link to the pdf on National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
Interestingly, however, Wikipedia calls SIM a ‘campaign’ launched by the Narendra Modi Government – link here.
When actually, SIM is a flagship programme and organisation functioning under the MSDE.
We think someone at the ministry could take it up to correct the Wiki entry.
The MSDE has set up the National Skill Development Corporation or NSDC to promote skill development by creating large-scale vocational training institutions.
We’re going to do a deep dive of the skill development policy in the coming posts.
But first, a brief critique of the SIM website. A click on posts about how to launch your own franchisee SIM training centre leads you to the backend of the php website. The same thing happens when you click on other such posts featured on the site’s homepage.
There’s also a bunch of spelling errors on the site when it comes to the titles of various online technical courses on offer. Which just makes it all the more…
…Interesting.
Skill India Mission, we expect more and better from you! 🙂
Little Neos 