In recent decades there has been a tremendous growth of labour force, resulting in increased rate of unemployment in the country. Every year, there are about seven to eight million new entrants to the labour force. Unemployment refers to a situation when there is a mismatch between employment opportunities and available skills1. Rapid expansion of education, particularly of higher education, has also contributed to the shortages of middle-level technical and supervisory skills. It is, therefore, necessary to reorient the educational and training systems towards improving the capability to supply the requisite skills. It should be flexibilie enough to enable to respond to the changes in the labour market and should be able to impart suitable training for upgradation of skills of the self-employed and wage earners in the unorganised sector.

Skill building and training contributes significantly in promoting the interests of individuals, enterprises, economy and society. It is a means to empower people, improve the quality of work, enhance citizens’ productivity, raise workers’ incomes, promote job security and social equity and help individuals become more employable in rapidly changing internal and external labour markets. As the responsibility for imparting training devolves on a number of agencies - in central and state governments, NGOs and private bodies - there is need to clearly identify and strengthen coordination at various levels. A greater involvement of industry in planning and running the training system will also be necessary for this purpose. The Government of India, in its Tenth Plan envisaged to improve quality of employment by providing skill-based training at all levels so as to increase productivity and income level of the workforce. A special group in the Planning Commission was constituted to suggest strategies and programmes in the Tenth Plan for creating gainful employment opportunities for one crore people per year during each year of the Tenth Plan2.

Government Of India Initiatives

In India, the Directorate General of Employment & Training (DGE&T) in the Ministry of Labour is the apex organisation for development and coordination at the national level for programmes relating to vocational training, including Women’s Vocational Training and Employment Services. DGE&T has been set up in July 1945 to resettle demobilised defence service personnel and discharged war workers in civil life. Subsequently, the scope of the directorate was extended to cover employment service to all categories of job seekers in early 1948, and training services to all civilians in 1950. The major scheme being implemented by DGE&T are Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS), and Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS).

Under the above vocational training programmes DGE&T:

• Develops training programme at the national level, particularly in the areas concerning common policies, common standards and procedures
• Deals with training of instructors and trade testing and certification
• Conducts vocational training in some specialised areas, including training of women through field institutes under its direct control
• Conducts research in vocational training and development of instructional material
• Implements the Apprentices Act, 1961 in respect to trade apprentices

DGE&T also operates Vocational Training Schemes in some of the specialised areas through its field institutes.

Schemes of Training Directorate

DGE&T oversees the following training schemes at national level in the country:

Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS)

The CT Scheme was launched to sustain an adequate supply of semi-skilled workers to the industry, and for value creation through dynamic vocational training policy and infrastructure. Industrial Training Institutes/Centres (ITIs /ITCs) were established and about 5465 are functioning all over the country, with a seating capacity to 7.49 lakh to impart training in 110 trades. Apart from ITIs/ITCs, craftsmen training in 22 trades are also imparted through 6 Model Training Institutes (MTIs) attached to 5 Advanced Training Institutes (ATIs) and one Central Training Institute (CTI) under the DGE&T. Besides this, one National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and 10 Regional Vocational Training Institutes (RVTIs) have also been imparting craftsmen training in women’s occupations.

Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS)

The AT scheme was expected to produce skilled workers. The Apprentices Act, 1961 has laid down specific rules for public and private institutions to engage apprentices. The Act covers 254 groups of industries of about 23,800 establishments engaging apprentices. A total of 187 trades in 35 trade groups have been designated for trade apprentices, and 1,85,224 apprentices have been undergoing apprenticeship training as on July 2007. In all, 104 subject fields have been designated for Graduate & Technician Apprentices and 97 for Technician (Vocational) Apprentices.

Craft Instructors’ Training Scheme (CITS)

Under this Scheme, trainers are trained in different trades through Advanced Training Institutes and Central Training Institute

Advanced Vocational Training Scheme (AVTS)

Advanced Vocational Training Scheme (AVTS) ensures that the individual’s skills and competencies improve along with changing technology and skill requirements. It also ensures the personal and career development of workers and results in increase in aggregate productivity and income. Training of workers in the advanced vocational areas has been provided through ATS and CTIS

Advanced Vocational Training In Electronics and Process Instrumentation

Two Advanced Training Institutes in Electronics and Process Instrumentation, set up at Hyderabad and Dehradun, offer advanced vocational training courses in this field

Supervisory Training / Foremen Training Scheme

Under this scheme, short-term/tailor-made programmes and long-term courses are conducted in two Foremen Training Institutes located at Bangalore and Jamshedpur, to train the existing and potential foremen and supervisors in technical and managerial skills

Staff Training, Research and Development

The Central Staff Training and Research Institute, Kolkata was set up in 1966 with the technical assistance from the Government of Federal Republic of Germany to conduct training programmes for executive staff and to undertake applied research in the field of vocational training and to develop, disseminate instructional materials and projected / non-projected training aids. The institute has trained 17677 personnel, and completed 161 projects, covering various aspects of vocational training. The Institute has also started special training programmes in non-formal areas for training staff of Vocational Rehabilitation Centres for the physically challenged individuals

Instructional Media Development Programme

Under this programme, the Central Instructional Media Institute (CIMI) was set up with the assistance of the Government of Germany in December 1986 to develop instructional material on vocational training for the use of trainees and trainers. This institute has been made autonomous on April 1, 1999. In 2003, it was renamed the National Instructional Media Institute (NIMI) in order to reflect its national character. The main objective for the establishment of the Institute is to make available instructional materials in various trades for the use of the trainees and trainers to ensure overall improvement in the standard of institutional training being imparted under Craftsmen and Apprenticeship Training Programmes. Present activities of the Institute include development, production and dissemination of Instructional Media Packages (IMPs) comprising books on Trade Theory, Trade Practical, Test /Assignment, Instructor’s Guide, Visual Aids, Support materials such as books on Workshop Calculation & Science, Reference Textbooks, Table Books, Etc.

Women’s Vocational Training Programme

Under this programme, training facilities exclusively for women are being offered by the DGE&T at one National Vocational Training Institute (NVTI) and 10 Regional Vocational Training Institutes (RVTIs). These NVTI/RVTIs have trained about 55,460 trainees since their inception in various regular long-term courses and in short-term / adhoc courses in specific skill areas like MS office, Word Processing, Personal Grooming, Repairs/Maintenance of Domestic Electronic equipments, Embroidery, Dress Making, etc.

New Initiatives

A centrally sponsored scheme for upgradation of ITIs into centres of excellence has been launched in the year 2006-07. The objective of the scheme is to upgrade the existing 100 ITIs into ‘Centers of Excellence (CoE)’ for producing a world class multi skilled workforce. The highlights of the scheme are the introduction of multi-skill courses during the first year, followed by advanced / specialised modular courses in the second year by adopting an industry wise cluster approach, multi entry and multi exit provisions, and Public-Private-Partnerships in the form of Institute Managing Committee (IMC) to ensure greater and more active involvement of industry in all aspects of training.

Skill Development Initiatives is a five-year project with an objective of training one million Indians. It will also identify people with existing skills, test them and finally certify them DGE&T is currently implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) ‘Establishment of new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in the North-eastern States and Sikkim’. The main objective of the scheme is to meet both the qualitative and quantitative skilled and semi-skilled manpower requirement for the industry sector, the service sector, self employment, etc., by creating and developing infrastructure for training of youth in identified skill areas. The scheme envisages establishment of 22 new ITIs and strengthening / modernisation of 35 existing ITIs in the North-eastern region.

National Skill Development Mission

In its Eleventh Plan, the Government of India aims at launching a National Skill Development Mission that will bring about a paradigm change in handling of ‘Skill development, programmes and initiatives’. The final draft will be presented to the Union cabinet for its approval shortly. The policy aims at empowering all individuals through improved skills, knowledge and internationally recognised qualifications to enable them access to steady employment and to promote inclusive national growth.

Useful Links on Skill Development and Training

Apart from DGE&T, the Government of India also provides information and imparts skill development and training through its various organizations / institutes. Some of them are listed below:
Central Board for Workers’ Education
(http://labour.nic.in/cbwe/main.htm)
This tripartite semi-autonomous body serves as a demonstration and information centre and acts as a nucleus, around which specialised schemes for training and education to labour are evolved.
Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology
(http://capart.nic.in)
CAPART, an autonomous body, is a major promoter of rural development in India, assisting over 12,000 voluntary organisations across the country in implementing a wide range of development initiatives.
Department of Information Technology
(http://mit.gov.in)
The Human Resource Development section of this website describes in detail a number of training measures taken in order to make India an IT sSuper Power by the year 2008.
Ministry of Human Resource Development
(http://education.nic.in)
This is a comprehensive website on all aspects of education and training, including policies, programmes, initiatives, institutions and statistics.
Ministry of Labour
(http://labour.nic.in)
The Citizen Services Gateway includes National Vocational Training Information Service. The Directorate General of Employment and Training provides an online detailed description of training schemes and field institutes/offices/centres.
Ministry of Rural Development
(http://rural.nic.in)
The website has information on the training programme ‘Swarnjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY)’ and its sub programmes such as skills development programme for the unemployed youths in the rural areas.
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment
(http://socialjustice.nic.in)
Under the different welfare schemes (scheduled caste, persons with disabilities, backward classes and minorities), the website offers detailed information on training centres and training programmes.
Ministry of Small-scale Industries
(http://ssi.nic.in)
The Ministry designs policies, programmes, projects and schemes in consultation with its organisations and various stakeholders and monitors their implementation with a view to assisting the promotion and growth of small-scale industries. The website has comprehensive information on training organisations/institutions and on training programmes.
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
(http://tribal.nic.in)
The website has information on Vocational Training Centre in Tribal Areas and Centrally Sponsored Education and Training Programmes.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
(http://wcd.nic.in)
The website has information on training programmes like the Support to Training and Employment Programme for Women (STEP).
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
(http://yas.nic.in)
The website has information on the financial assistance for promotion of youth activities and training.
National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector (NCEUS)
(http://nceuis.nic.in)
This Commission was set up as an advisory body and a watchdog for the informal sector to bring about improvement in the productivity of these enterprises to generate large-scale employment opportunities on a sustainable basis, particularly in the rural areas.
National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT)
(http://ncert.nic.in)
The website provides comprehensive information on all training activities for teachers.
National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board (NSTEDB)
(http://nstedb.com/nstedb/aboutus.htm)
Established by Government of India in 1982, the NSTEDB has a broad objective of promoting gainful self employment.
Indian Institute of Entrepreneur -ship
(http://iie.nic.in)
With an aim to undertake training, research and consultancy activities in the small industry sector focusing on entrepreneurship development, the Ministry of Industry (now Ministry of Small-scale Industry) established the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE) in the year 1993 at Guwahati.
National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD)
(http://niesbud.nic.in)
This Institute was established in 1983 by the Ministry of Industry (now Ministry of Small-scale Industries), Government of India, as an apex body for coordinating and overseeing the activities of various institutions/ agencies engaged in entrepreneurship development, particularly in the area of small industry and small business.
National Small Industries Corporation
(http://nsicindia.com)
Established in 1955 by the Government of India, the Corporation promotes, aids and fosters the growth of small industries in the country.
NISIET
(http://nisiet.gov.in)
NISIET came into being in 1960 as Central Institute of Small Industry Extension Training (CISIET) in New Delhi. The Institute strives to achieve its objectives through a gamut of operations ranging from training, consultancy, research and education, to extension and information services.

References
1 http://www.123oye.com/job-articles/hr/economy-development.htm
2 Annual Report (www.dget.nic.in)
3 (http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/asro/bangkok/skills-ap/skills/india_links.htm) q