The decision to launch the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is a very good one and, if implemented properly, will address India’s yawning skills gap. The government has pointed out that it needs 151 million skilled workers by 2022, of which the maximum (47 million) will be in the construction sector where Chinese workers are being eagerly sought today to meet this skill gap.
What makes this skill initiative novel is that the government has decided not to implement the scheme itself, but is working on a PPP model where the government will provide the money but the actual NSDC will be run by industry chambers like Ficci and CII. In order to make sure it works, however, the government will need to play the role of a facilitator. Reports so far suggest the model of industry bodies taking over ITIs has not worked very well — the same thing must not happen to the NSDC, one of the more important initiatives of the government in recent times.
Usha Kapoor, Mumbai
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