The recent buzz in the news is about TEJAS (Training for Emirates Jobs And Skills), a project under Skill India International, that was unveiled at the Dubai Expo in 2020. This endeavor aims at skilling, certifying, and providing overseas employment opportunities to Indians. The initial phase of the project seeks to create a robust 10,000-strong Indian workforce in the UAE, catering to the skill and market requirements of the nation.
The Imperative of Initiatives Like TEJAS
The focus of such initiatives is manifold, but primarily it is about tapping into the potential of the youth, who comprise the largest stakeholder in both nation building and image building. By skilling this population, India can offer a vast skilled workforce to the global market.
Contending With Rising Unemployment
In light of the all-time high unemployment rate that India encountered in 2020, projects like TEJAS are seen as viable solutions to mitigate the impact of unemployment triggered by several factors, including the coronavirus pandemic-induced lockdown.
Economic Implications
According to a report by the World Economic Forum (January 2021), there is significant economic potential in upskilling. The report suggests that investment in upskilling could potentially accelerate the global economy by a whopping USD6.5 trillion by 2030, with India’s economy enjoying a possible boost of USD570 billion. The added bonus for India would be the creation of an estimated 2.3 million jobs by 2030, ranking second only to the US’s 2.7 million jobs.
The Challenge of the Unskilled Labour Force
The UNDP’s Human Development Report-2020 highlighted the concerning fact that during 2010-2019, only 21.1% of the labor force in India was skilled. This disappointing outcome is attributed to a lack of cohesion within policy actions, the absence of a holistic approach, and working in silos.
The Other Skilling Initiatives in India
In addition to TEJAS, other noteworthy skilling initiatives include: IndiaSkills 2021; Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY); Recognition of Prior Learning; National Career Service Project; Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP); Young, Upcoming, and Versatile Authors’ (YUVA) scheme; Kaushalacharya Awards; Scheme for Higher Education Youth in Apprenticeship and Skills (SHREYAS); Atmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping (ASEEM); and Skill Certification UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs).
About Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana
Launched by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, in 2015, the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) envisages empowering the Indian youth with industry-relevant skill training. This will subsequently lay the groundwork for them to secure better livelihoods. The PMKVY also aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Skill Qualification Framework.