The Union Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambaram said that skill development is needed to fill the significant gap between the actual skills of large number of candidates passing out from various schools, colleges and professional institutions across the country and the skills needed in the industry. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram said that we have set-up an ambitious target of providing skills to 500 million people in ten years meaning thereby that 50 million people are to be skilled every year, which is a huge challenge in itself. He said that Business and corporate houses must work closely with NSDC to achieve this target. The Finance Minister was addressing the Board of National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) here today. The Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram said that since NSDC works with industry, therefore, it is industry which should drive NSDC agenda and not vice versa. The Finance Minister said that the Prime Minister has set-up a Cabinet Committee on Skill Development in order to overall coordinate and monitor the progress of skill development programmes in different sectors among others. He said that the Government is committed to skilling as it helps people not only in finding-out right vocation for themselves but also helps in giving them self confidence. Dr Arvind Mayaram, Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs, Shri S. Ramadorai, Chairman, NSDC and Shri S.K. Das, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs were present among others in the meeting.

Later, the Finance Minister Shri Chidambaram flagged off the Indian Delegation consisting of 24 participants who will be participating in 22 skills during the World Skills Competition scheduled to be held in Leipzig, Germany from 2–7 July 2013. Overall 54 countries will participate in 46 skills with more than 1,000 competitors, 970 experts, 252 interpreters, 53 official delegates and 116 team leaders in the said competition this year.

Participants in the aforesaid World Skills Competition have been selected through an intense pan-India selection process, through a combination of mentoring and rigorous training. Thereby, competitors have not only been trained to be the best in their field within India, but via various innovative stimulus methods, been exposed to the global standards of skill development – being trained and nurtured not only in their skill, but mentally honed to think globally like winners. India is participating in a range of skills like Electronics, CNC Turning & Milling, Mechatronics, Welding, Plastic-die Engineering, Beauty Therapy, Hair Dressing, Restaurant services, Cooking, Confectionary, Graphic Design, Fashion Technology, Jewelry, Information & Communication Technology, Engineering Technology, Car Painting, Auto Body Repair and Automobile Technology

Regarded as the Skills Olympics, every two years, the World Skills Competition brings together from across the world more than 1,000 youth below 23 years, to compete in a variety of skills ranging from welding to web designing.

Announcing the formation of the National Skill Development Corporation(NSDC) in the Budget Speech 2008-09, the Finance Minister Shri P Chidambaram had observed: “...There is a compelling need to launch a world-class skill development programme in mission mode that will address the challenge of imparting the skills required by a growing economy.”

Speaking about the upcoming event in Leipzig, Germany from 2–7 July 2013, Shri S. Ramadorai, Chairman, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) commented: “Regular participation in this global event can go a long way in ensuring India’s youth benchmark their vocational skills against the best of the best worldwide. Periodic exposure to global competitions will soon help us prove our youth are second to none when given a level playing field.”

World Skills India is the official body representing the nation at the World Skills Leipzig 2013. Since 2011, the NSDC has spearheaded the Indian participation at World Skills International Competitions. This is the second year that India will be participating in an organized manner. It is also the first time that World Skills India has had a full two years to prepare for the competitions. The decision to participate in World Skills International Competitions is in sync with the Government of India’s philosophy of using every platform to make Indian youth aspire for vocational skills.

The objectives of participation are threefold:

• Make skills respected and inspirational among India’s youth.

• Benchmark Indian norms to global standards.

• Create a talent pool of experts in India with global exposure to international methods, processes and action.

Going beyond education, ‘skilling’ is about self-reliance and optimization of the self. With the correct impetus and a well-charted roadmap, there is nothing to prevent India’s youth from becoming a global workforce to reckon with.

As a one of its kind, Public Private Partnership in India, the NSDC aims to promote skill development by catalyzing the creation of large, quality, for-profit vocational institutions. Accordingly, it provides funding to build scalable, for-profit vocational training entities. Its mandate also extends to enabling support systems such as quality assurance, information systems and training-the-trainer academies.

DSM/RS/KA

(Release ID :96824)