If there146;s skill, there146;s a way

Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has come up with a Central scheme to reach out to lakhs of skilled labour, artisans...

Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has come up with a Central scheme to reach out to lakhs of skilled labour, artisans and craftsmen in the unorganised and self-employed sector.

Early next year, he is set to announce the scheme to provide certificates to the skilled workforce throughout the country whereby even a car mechanic with no degrees will be recognised for his skills by the Centre.

The scheme cannot be implemented immediately because, as the bureaucrats working on the project point out, it would take two years to put the entire system in place. The hub would be in Delhi and called the National Competency Testing Agency.

But the timing of the announcement will be crucial because it will come in an election year. As Joshi himself told The Indian Express, 8216;8216;The entire exercise is to give dignity to the skilled workforce in the unorganised sector. Such Central accreditation will help them obtain jobs at short notice. In this sector, there is hardly any employment guarantee.8217;8217;

The bureaucrats have been told that the scheme should be prepared as soon as possible and the NCTA should try giving out the certificates from 2005 itself. Already, an assessment has begun of the total skilled workforce in the unemployed sector. Joshi has advised the bureaucrats to be ready with at least 50 lakh certificates in the next two years.

There are welders, fitters, barbers, tailors and a host of rural artisans engaged in various trades. For the vocational courses, being planned for Class IX students from 2006, the ministry has already identified 315 trades. Certificates will be given to all these technicians and craftsmen, who have learnt their skills on the job and never had any formal vocational training.

HRD officials said the NCTA would have to set up the state networks at the earliest. And the state that cooperates with the Centre the most will benefit the most.

Story continues below this ad

Joshi said, 8216;8216;I want to give every skilled adult in the country his or her dignity. These people have school-going children. Even as parents, they would feel vindicated for all the hard labour they have put in through their life once the society recognises his worth. After all, poverty or lack of infrastructure prevented them from receiving education. Being literate does not necessarily mean being familiar with the alphabet. Imbibing of skills is equally important.8217;8217;

Joshi will be discussing the scheme in great detail with the PM before making a formal announcement. He might have to share his ideas at some stage or the other with Union Minister for Labour Sahib Singh Verma and the Labour Ministry.