The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is making significant strides in its efforts to provide gainful employment opportunities to skilled individuals. This has been demonstrated through the recent conduct of a National Apprenticeship Mela, which aimed at supporting the hiring of over one lakh apprentices.
Understanding the National Apprenticeship Mela
The National Apprenticeship Mela is a program developed by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to encourage and support employment of skilled workforce. The initiative aligns with the National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015, wherein apprenticeship is recognized as an effective means of providing employment with adequate compensation.
Apprenticeship, as a Skill Training program, engages an individual with a company as an apprentice. It involves a mix of classroom learning (theory) and practical on-the-job training. The goal is to help employers tap and further develop the right talent with the practical skills required in respective industries.
Those eligible to participate in the program include individuals with a 5th–12th grade pass certificate, a skill training certificate, an ITI Diploma, or a graduate degree. On successful completion, participants receive certificates recognized by the National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), which was notified by MSDE on 5th December 2018.
Government Policies Related to Apprenticeship
Apprenticeships fall under the purview of the Apprentices Act, 1961, which was enacted to regulate the training of apprentices in the industry, leveraging available facilities for imparting practical training. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship is responsible for implementing the Act.
In December 2014, several comprehensive amendments were made to make the Act more appealing to both the industry and the youth. Key changes included replacing trade-wise and unit-wise regulation of apprentices with a 2.5% to 10% band of the total workforce (including contractual workers), introduction of optional trades, removal of strict clauses such as imprisonment, and permitting industries to outsource basic training.
An offshoot of this policy reform is the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), launched on 19th August 2016. NAPS replaced the Apprentice Protsahan Yojna and included two components: Reimbursement of 25% of the stipulated stipend (up to Rs. 1500 per month per apprentice) by the Government of India to employers who hire apprentices, and reimbursement of the cost of basic training (up to Rs. 7500 for a maximum of 500 hours or three months) to Basic Training Providers (BTPs) for apprentices who come directly for apprenticeship training without any formal training.
Initiatives to Promote Apprenticeships
Various schemes have been introduced by the government to promote apprenticeships. Among these are the Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS), Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement Scheme, YuWaah Youth Skilling Initiative, and the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. These initiatives are geared towards enhancing skills and employability, along with promoting entrepreneurship among the youth.