States partnership essential for Skill India: Rudy The Union Minister for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy today participated in Rajasthan's global investor meet, Resurgent Rajasthan 2015 currently on in Jaipur. Addressing the session titled "Make in India: Skilled Rajasthan", the minister highlighted the importance of Skill India to achieve Make in India. Explaining the current GDP breakup, he stressed that for economic development, the contribution of manufacturing sector in the total GDP needs to increase, which is possible only with the availability of skilled workforce in the sector. Acknowledging Rajasthan's various initiatives in this regard and appreciating the major reforms for skill development undertaken by Vasundhara Raje's government, shri Rudy expressed the essentiality for the States to come on board with Central Government initiatives to skill at scale and speed with standards. Congratulating Rajasthan for its success in establishing the first State Skill Mission to converge all skill development schemes under one umbrella, he urged other States to replicate such effective models to streamline the skill development efforts. He further shared the Central Government's upcoming initiative to collaborate with States in implementing the central schemes on skill development. The Ministry for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has partnered with World Bank to strengthen States implementing skill training schemes through financial support which would be linked to certain parameters including alignment of all schemes with the NSQF framework, carrying out district level skill assessment studies, converging all schemes under the State Skill Development Mission, integrating skill database to the national Labour Management Informational System (LMIS), supporting legislative/policy rules encouraging skill development activities in the States. Shri Rudy also reiterated the need for industry to come forth and participate in these initiatives as it is the ultimate beneficiary of the skilled workforce. Highlighting some of the existing challenges with respect to constraint of resources and inadequate financial support, he emphasised on the necessity for private organisations to contribute through their Corporate Social Responsibility funds. In order to escalate the targets for skill development keeping in view the constantly increasing workforce in the country, there is a need for all stakeholders including Central Government, States, and Industry to integrate their efforts to achieve the desired output. AD/
