Ankur Jain, IPS, Mission Director, Assam Skill Development Mission & CEO, Assam Skill University speaks about the initiatives taken by ASDM and plans for the upcoming Assam Skill University
Sudheer Goutham
Tell us about the focus areas of Assam Skill Development Mission
I have seen the other side i.e. the disgruntled youth in Assam a few years ago when insurgency was prevalent. Today, it has changed for the better and many surrendered and joined the mainstream. When there is no proper pathway chalked out, youth tend to go astray. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as the Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma are keen to arm the youth and make them productive citizens. The present government is proactive in skilling of the youth.
Apart from skill training under the State Government schemes in conjunction with other departments, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) industry-relevant skill training is given.
What are the outcomes of the training programmes?
It is heartening to note that more than 4 lakh youth have been trained and have been gainfully employed. We have identified key gaps by conducting a statewide study by mapping each district. It is important to understand the aspirations of the youth and the opportunities. This study is the guiding light.
Tell us about the upcoming Assam Skill University
The Assam Skill University coming up at Mangaldai in Darrang district will have a holistic approach. There would be short term, one year, two-year, degree and post graduate courses with nine schools in nine streams. Industry 4.0 courses would be offered. The university will be operational by the end of 2025.
Presently, a good number of the youth from the state go to other parts of the country for education. That will change as we would be having state-of-the-art facilities with new-age technology offered at affordable fee. This apart, the hostels would be at par with any of the universities in India.
The Assam Skill University will cater to 10,000 students and each year 3,000 students would graduate.
Tell us about the North East Skill Centre
The North East Skill Centre (NESC) was established in 2018 in collaboration with ITE Education Services (ITEES), Singapore to churn out skilled manpower. It is operating under Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) with an aim to provide quality training of international standard. The candidates are trained annually in Food & Beverages, Tourism & Hospitality, Retail Service and Beauty & Wellness. The placement is 95%.
Skill training certificates backed by accreditation by reputed institutions is the need of the hour. What are the initiatives towards this end?
ITE Education Services (ITEES), Singapore is our knowledge partner and we have seen a qualitative jump. Even in the future we plan to have accreditation for our courses by reputed institutions. We have noticed many a time a students going to other countries are forced to do another course to get qualified for the job.
What are the main areas where training is needed for the youth of Assam?
Assam is predominantly an agrarian economy contributing to 44% of the State’s GDP. The focus is on self-employment training and linking with banks with Mudra loans. There is a placement linked scheme. The State is progressing at a fast pace. Construction, tourism, healthcare, IT & enabled services, traditional art and crafts are areas that training could be helpful to engage the population.
Assam is the cultural hotspot and weaving and textiles plays an important role in the lives of the people. We are facilitating traditional craftsmen with help so that they can set up their own centres.
A huge number of youth who were a part of militancy have surrendered and we have proposed to the Government to provide skill training to 4,500. Guwahati is growing at breakneck speed and there is huge potential for skilling them in several sectors and construction could be one.
You always speak of Assam’s youth having immense potential
It is a young population. They are smart, dress well and speak good English. More importantly, they are at least two-and-a-half years younger to the Indian average in age. At a time when several countries in the world are grappling with the problem of an ageing population, Indian and Assam has a very young population. We are in talks with different partners and exploring avenues to provide the youth with newer pastures. For instance, we are in talks with the Japanese and would be training them in Japanese who would eventually be absorbed by Japanese companies.
Every year close to 3 lakh students graduate from 10+2. By 2025, there would be a shortfall of 12 lakh workforce. The demand is huge and there is huge potential for skilling the youth. We have tied up with Tata Group and 76 ITIs would be upgraded. The trained students would also be getting employed by Tata.
The Assam Skill University coming up at Mangaldai in Darrang district will have a holistic approach. Industry 4.0 courses would be offered.
There is a perception among people that skill oriented training does not fetch good salary. Your comments
We are organizing awareness programmes. It is true that many go for a conventional degree but there is a change, albeit slowly. The Government has recognized the two-year ITI course as equivalent to 12th graduate so that students can pursue a degree course and also work at the same time. This has a major advantage as the individual would start earning at least four years in advance and thereby contributing to himself or herself, family and the state.
The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 too proposes for interdisciplinary courses and crisscross linkages. We are organizing skill yatras by targeting Government schools in the state by going in for a registration drive to understand their plans if they would opt for a skill-based training programme or continue for a conventional degree.