Govt asks India Inc to focus on skilling

Inviting India Inc to join the government's initiative of creating skilled manpower, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu today said the programme will be taken to the block level by creating training centres for various sectors. "We have the inherent strength (manpower) but we need to upgrade it. Today there is a huge shortage of manpower across the globe. Our biggest asset is our human resource. If we train our manpower, we will be able to provide the workforce to the world," the Urban Development Minister told reporters. He was speaking to the media after the National Industry Conclave on Skill Development, attended by top industrialists, representatives of public sector banks and other institutions, apart from six union ministers.

Currently, India has only 3.5 percent skilled manpower against 95 percent in Korea, 78 percent in Japan and 75 percent in Germany, he said. Naidu said the government can also provide funds required to scale up projects through its various ministries. "We also told the industry that apart from government funds, CSR funds can also be utilised for the programme. We can dovetail this money," he said. The minister said the industry has requested the government to establish central mechanism of certification of skilled workers. "We have informed them that the National Skill Development Council will take care of certification."The private sector needs to participate in a big way. If they require land for setting up training centres, it could be made available by urban or local bodies. The companies can also buy land for the purpose," he said.