BS Raghupathy
Joint Director(Trg) & Ex-Officio Apprenticeship Advisor
Directorate of Employment & Training , Bangalore
Please tell us about your role in the Department of Employment and Training, Karnataka.
The main functions of the employment wing consist of registration and placements; vocational guidance; and providing employment market information. Additionally, it is also the implementing body for new schemes including Study Circles; computerisation and creation of web portal; and Udyoga Mela / Rallies.
As a Head of Division , my role is to conduct Periodic Inspection of ITIs / ITCs and to guide the Principals in case of New Schemes. Further sanction and approvals in case of Stipend and tMerit Stipend, Trainees Admission List, Training Grant Estimates, Procurement of Raw Materials, Tour Programme of Principals etc.
Do you agree that Public Private Partnership is considered as the best model for propagating Skill and Vocational development amongst masses?
PPP Model is really the best Model for Implementation of Vocational Training, with adequate autonomy in Administration, Financial and Academy. There should be a commitment from the Industry Partner in upgrading training standards to produce multi-skilled workforce to match global standards. The process includes upgrading infrastructure, equipping with latest and modern tools and equipments, measuring instruments and training of faculties.
The private players should take active role by participating and conducting periodic meetings followed by quick decisions and handhold the principal and his team to implement the decision taken in stipulated time. They should prepare short, medium and long range plan and play catalyst role in bringing the changes in typical government functionary.
Please elaborate on the Employment Market Information (EMI) programme you implement to facilitate manpower planning and analysis.
To promote employability, each institution should have a placement officer. They should create data base of all the trainees and keep forwarding their resumes to various employers located in local, state, national and even at the international level. They should also assist the trainees going abroad by providing orientation cum training programmes, organising job fairs at local and district level inviting employers to take part in the fair and recruit suitable candidates.
In order to implement EMI programme, first we have to conduct skill mapping of human resources and skills for ITI trainees, to identify high growth sectors, map current employment pattern, identify human resource requirements to support the growth potential, map current and future skill requirement and gap, etc. We have already initiated the process on re-designating employment exchanges as HRD centres and create job portals with PPP Model. The registrations are made available on-line, by phone or by SMS.
What are the lacunae and the opportunities that Modular Employable Skills (MES) under Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) provides in Karnataka?
MES is one of the novel schemes mooted by the Government of India. As of now 1090 modules in 46 sectors are developed. The bottlenecks in effective implementation of MES in respect to Karnataka include location of Nodal Agency at Regional Directorate of Apprenticeship Training (RDAT), Hyderabad; assessment bodies not conducting timely assessment test; delay in declaration of result and issue of certificates; and delay in reimbursement of training fees and assessment fees. The scheme requires thorough review by our external / independent agency to suggest suitable recommendation and action plan based on the key findings from Vocational Training Programme (VTPs) and Government. However, I strongly recommend that Nodal Centres should be given to State Directorates instead of RDAT and the entire responsibility of implementing MES Scheme with transfer of funds should be delegated to them.
What are the policy changes or additions that you would recommend for the Vocational Education and Skill Development sector India?
Government of India
