The recent introduction of the National Initiative for Promoting Upskilling of Nirman Workers (NIPUN) announces an innovative era of skill training for construction workers. NIPUN, launched by the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), is poised to forge a future labour force that accelerates innovation and broad development across the country. It’s pertinent to note that the construction sector is predicted to become the largest employer by 2022, requiring an additional 45 million skilled workers within the next decade.
This endeavour aims to train over 100,000 construction workers via fresh skilling initiatives and upskilling programmes. The project is run under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), signifying its significant potential to transform the lives of urban poor households by providing upskilling and employment opportunities, especially for the youth. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) serves as the nodal agency responsible for executing the training, monitoring and candidate tracking.
Project Implementation: A Three-Pronged Approach
The implementation strategy for the NIPUN project can be divided into three segments:
1. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Training at Construction Sites: Approximately 80,000 construction workers will undergo onsite skill training through industry associations under the RPL certification, co-branded with MoHUA.
2. Fresh Skilling through Plumbing and Infrastructure Sector Skill Council (SSC): Around 14,000 candidates will receive fresh skilling via plumbing and infrastructure SSC in trades with promising placement potential.
3. International Placement through Industries/Builders/Contractors: Courses aligned with the National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF) will be imparted at accredited and affiliated training centers. NSDC is expected to place approximately 12,000 individuals in foreign countries including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other GCC countries.
Benefits of Project NIPUN
The NIPUN project offers multiple benefits:
1. Access to New Opportunity: The initiative empowers construction workers to seek better job opportunities, increase their wages, and even explore overseas placements.
2. Spirit of Entrepreneurship: By providing urban workers access to self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities, the project encourages entrepreneurial spirit and proficiency.
3. Skill Advancement: It enables Nirman workers to adopt advanced skills tailored to the future trends of the construction industry, thereby enhancing their capabilities and diversifying their skill sets.
In addition, the project contributes to the growth of the economy since the construction industry significantly boosts the nation’s GDP. It also provides social security to trainees, offering a three-year accidental insurance cover of INR 2 lakhs, digital skills training for cashless transactions, and EPF and BOCW facilities.
About DAY-NRLM
DAY-NULM, which has been in implementation since 2014-15, aims to alleviate poverty and the vulnerability of urban poor households across India. This is achieved by empowering them to access self-employment and skilled wage employment opportunities. Launched by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India in 2011, the mission seeks to create efficient and effective institutional platforms for rural poor. This is done by increasing household income through sustainable livelihood enhancement and improved access to financial services. The DAY-NRLM places special emphasis on targeting the most impoverished and vulnerable communities and fosters their financial inclusion.
NIPUN Bharat Mission
In 2021, the Ministry of Education launched the National Initiative for Proficiency in Reading with Understanding and Numeracy (NIPUN Bharat) as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The goal of this initiative is to ensure that every child in India attains foundational literacy and numeracy by the end of Grade 3 by 2026-27.
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
The NRLM is a poverty alleviation project implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development. This scheme promotes self-employment and rural organization. The basic concept behind this programme is to organize the poor into Self Help Groups (SHGs) and enable them for self-employment.
The pillars of NRLM are enhancing and expanding existing livelihood options of the poor, building skills for the job market outside, and nurturing self-employed and entrepreneurs. However, it does not focus on setting up new manufacturing industries or agribusiness centres in rural areas. Its objective is also not to supply seeds, fertilizers, diesel pump-sets and micro-irrigation equipment.
