Over the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequential lockdown have affected many lives across the country. In India, along with students and others, migrant workers have been one of the most affected categories during the crisis. To mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on skill development training, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has taken several initiatives.
Some of the initiatives are:
- Training of reverse migrants under PMKVY: Under its flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), MSDE has implemented a special programme for the training of reverse Shramik (migrant) who have been impacted from COVID-19. It has covered 116 districts of Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh which are selected under Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyan (GKRA) of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD).
- COVID-19 allowance to training centres: Common Norms Committee (CNC) for Skill Development Schemes has decided that the 1.5% of the hourly base training cost may be allowed as COVID Allowance.
- Introduction of online skill training: Online skill training has been introduced in both the short-term and long-term skilling ecosystems. Online short-term training is being imparted through the eSkill India portal whereas long-term training is being imparted through the Bharat Skills portal.
- ‘Customized Crash Course Programme for COVID-19 Warriors’: This programme aims to train about one lakh COVID-19 warriors in six healthcare-related job roles. Through the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) network, 16 distinct hospitals are imparting skilling to youth.
The objectives of the customized crash course programme
- To increase the number of skilled healthcare workers
- Reduce the burden of healthcare professionals
- Provide timely healthcare services in the country
Job roles under customized crash course programme
Under this programme, the training is being provided in six healthcare job roles such as Basic Care Support Home Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Sample Collection Support, Emergency Care Support, and Medical Equipment Support.
New skilling and upskilling of migrant workers
Under new skilling, 21-days of theory-based classroom training is provided followed by 90 days of On-the-Job Training (OJT) in a healthcare facility such as health centres, hospitals, sample collection centres, etc. Also, there is a training of around one-week duration as a bridge course under upskilling on the above mentioned six job roles.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
