Role of industry and government for skilled manpower: Post COVID-19 perspective

PHD Chamber Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Committee (PHDCCI) organized an interactive webinar on the  ‘Renewed Role of Industry and the Government for Skilled Manpower: Post COVID-19 Perspective ’ with Mr Praveen Kumar, IAS Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India on 5th June 2020.

Around 250 delegates participated from different industries and skill organizations like the Skill Training Partners, Sector Skill Councils, State Skill Missions, Assessment Agencies, Industries, Project Implementation Agencies and others.

D K Aggarwal, President, PHDCCI welcomed Mr Praveen Kumar, Secretary Skill Development along with Mr Pradeep Multani, Vice President, PHDCCI and esteemed panelists namely Mr Anil Khaitan, Former President, PHDCCI, Mr Vishal Jindal, Chairman, PHD Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Committee, Dr. Rubina Mittal, Co-Chairperson, PHD Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Committee, Mr Ajit Gupta, PHD Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Committee, Mr Atul Anand, Co-Chairman, PHD International Committee on Asia, Oceania and East Africa, Ms. Eika Banerjee, CEO, Future Learning and Shri Tushar Mittal, Founder and CEO, Studiokon Ventures Pvt. Ltd.

Mr Saurabh Sanyal, Secretary General, PHDCCI formally presented the vote of thanks acknowledging the Secretary and the panelists along with the sponsors namely Mr Balaji Exims and Ajit Industries for supporting this meaningful and timely webinar. The webinar was moderated by Mr. Vivek Seigell, Principal Director, PHDCCI.

Highlights of the webinar:

• Immediate issues faced by the industry due to labour and workforce migration.
• Government support for the skill training sector to recover after the lockdown.
• Readiness to provide online courses under skill development  schemes.
• Migration issue of the workforce.
• New ways and format of skilling
• Increasing joint role and responsibilities of the government and industry in skilling India

Mr Praveen Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India said that the Ministry of Skill Development will be releasing the SOPs soon for opening and operating of Skill Centres with social distancing norms and will launch the Skill Management Information System while working on reverse migrants. He also said that there was a great asymmetry in the information of demand and supply of skilled workers – a need which will be fulfilled by the Skill Management Information System. He said that the skill gap analysis needs to be undertaken and the same requires to be done at the DM level keeping in view the reverse migration of the workforce.

He further added that we are entering the era of blended learning wherein techniques and technologies like AI and Simulation will be used for learning outcomes;yet he cautioned that we are faced with the challenge of a large section of population not equipped with laptops though smartphones can fill in the gap. Online monitoring of the skilling activities need to be done not for attendance but for the learning outcomes, he added.

He also suggested that the over dependence on the government for skilling needs to pave the way for fee based programmes. The Secretary shared that ITI rejuvenation plan is underway on lines of the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan and welcomed the industry to tie-up with 15000 ITIs. He also talked about the openness of the government to look at the regulatory simplification of the Apprenticeship act to encourage the Industry for taking up apprentices for industrial training. He also clarified that the government is not looking at any bailout package for the skill development industry.

Dr. D K Aggarwal, President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in his presidential remarks talked about the manner in which the labour workforce has got displaced during these COVID-19 times and the need to ponder over the fact that many of those may not return to their workplaces for  months now which may require re-skilling the workers. The Skill Development Ministry may like to guide the industry and issue necessary guidelines for online skilling for various skilling projects sanctioned under the skill development schemes of the Government of India, the President added.

Mr. Pradeep Multani, Vice President, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry in his address said we are now witnessing the fourth industrial revolution, Industry 4.0, which is taking technology adoption in manufacturing to a whole new level. In India, the adoption of Manufacturing 4.0 is at a nascent stage. The industrial sector is an integral part of ‘Make in India’. Skilling is the most critical and complex component of manufacturing transition; a skilled workforce forms a key element for the adoption of Manufacturing 4.0 which will provide necessary framework for propelling industrial growth and creating a skilled workforce.

Mr. Vishal Jindal, Chairman, Skill and ED Committee, PHD Chamber shared the issues and challenges faced by the industry while also suggesting relief measures and steps to ensure smooth working of the industry in the country especially related to what the industry needs today to survive out of this crisis.

Also read: PHDCCI strengthens the MSMEs ecosystem through entrepreneurship skills facilitation https://nationalskillsnetwork.in/phdcci-strengthens-the-msmes-ecosystem-through-entrepreneurship-skills-facilitation/

All the panelists shared their thoughts and vision on the subject or skilling India through these trying times and beyond. The secretary very keenly listened to all the panelists and assured some way out in resolving all the problems related to workforce and skilling. He reiterated that he is open to receiving constructive suggestions from the industry.