RPL Initiatives from Textile Sector Skill Council (TSC)

Textile Sector Skill Council (TSC) is a non-profit making organisation registered under the Companies Act 2013. Textile Sector Skill Council has been approved by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). TSC has been setup to develop a skilled work force for the textile industry by setting curriculum for training and accreditation of trade competency.

TSC plans to facilitate scalable “skill training” to the complete work force engaged in the manufacture of textile and handloom products. National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC approved Textile Sector Skill Council (TSC) for development of skill in spinning, weaving, processing and hand-loom sectors of the textile industry. TSC has been implementing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) projects in different locations in India to recognize informal learning in textile and handloom industry*. Let’s get to know about some of them.

The RPL program was conducted under PMKY for the Job Role of Jacquard Weaver Handloom by TSC. The objectives of the program were

• To enable a large work force to take up industry relevant skill training for better livelihood
• To align competencies of un-regulated to standardised NSQF.
• To enhance the career opportunities for the trainees.
• To assess and certify the skills of the traditional weavers.
• To reduce the inequalities between the skills

There was an RPL program conducted for the recognition of the power loom weavers of Tamil Nadu who have been serving the nation with their artistic skill of making good quality and attractive fabrics. The figures for this RPL program are*:

• Total Numbers Sanctioned – 50000
• Total number of candidates certified – 42000
• Total number of districts and states – States: 10, districts 37

RPL summary for January 2017 – April 2017

How the candidates and employers have benefitted from RPL training and certification:
Role: Jacquard Weaver Handloom ; RPL facilitator: Arni Handloom Silk Park 

Ayad Ali

This is Ayad Ali a power-loom Weaver from UP, he got to know about RPL scheme through Skillmitra candidates Mobilization activity in his village and he enrolled himself and completed his RPL Training under PMKVY. He found the training very useful, and has benefited from this training. He also became aware of the Government initiatives for weavers like him.

Annapurani from Onnapuram, Tamil Nadu would like to thank all the people who arranged the RPL classes in her village without causing any disruptions in her daily routine. She feels the unique feature of this program is that traditional skills of the weavers are identified, recognized and certified.

(* All the numbers mentioned in this article are indicative of the RPL achievements till March – April 2017)