Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) faces socio-economic challenges, including high unemployment rates and a large number of school and college dropouts. These challenges demand innovative solutions that address employability through skill-based education. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 aims to revamp the education system to focus on inclusivity and skill-based training. In line with this vision, establishing a Centre for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (CSDE) in J&K’s colleges in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), will provide a platform to impart essential industry-relevant skills to school and college dropouts. This initiative aims to empower the youth, boost entrepreneurship, and create a sustainable workforce that can contribute significantly to the region’s economy.
Objectives
Equip dropouts with skills that enhance employability and enable them to reintegrate into the workforce.
Provide entrepreneurial skills to enable dropouts to start small businesses or join the local industries. Utilization of NSDC’s vast expertise and industry connections to create standardized curricula, offer certification, and facilitate job placements. Ensure that the initiative meets NEP 2020’s goals of vocational education, promoting lifelong learning, and providing flexible pathways for education and employment.
Key Components of the Initiative
- Customized Skill Training Programs: Collaboration with NSDC to design courses that address the demands of local industries such as agriculture, tourism, handicrafts, and IT. Incorporation of training in communication, financial literacy, and digital literacy to prepare dropouts for a modern job market.
- Entrepreneurship Development: Establishment of incubation centers to nurture entrepreneurial ideas from dropouts, with mentorship provided by industry leaders.
- Collaboration with microfinance institutions, banks, and government schemes to provide seed funding and credit for small business startups. Creation of mentorship network where local entrepreneurs can offer guidance on business planning, execution, and growth strategies.
- Apprenticeships and On-the-Job Training: Engagement of local businesses, MSMEs, and larger corporations through NSDC’s employer network to offer apprenticeships and internships. Practical training for trainees by providing opportunities for real-world work experience with local industries.
- Integration with Government Programs: Aligning CSDE programs with national skill development schemes, providing access to government-funded training and certifications. Utilization of PMKVY and similar schemes to support financial backing for trainees and certification standards. Use of online and blended learning methods to reach dropouts in remote areas, enabling them to learn via digital platforms.
Implementation Strategy
- Center Setup and Resource Mobilization
- Establishment CSDEs across key colleges in J&K, equipped with the latest technology and tools.
- Securing funding from state and central government schemes, NSDC resources, and industry partnerships.
- Curriculum Development and Faculty Training.
- Collaboration with NSDC to create an industry-specific curriculum.
- Training faculty members to deliver these skill-based programs and offer career mentorship to dropouts.
- Program Launch
- Rolling out pilot programs, focusing on high-demand sectors such as hospitality, healthcare, construction, and IT.
- Launching entrepreneurship courses that focus on local business needs and encourage self-reliance.
- Monitoring and Evaluation.
- Implementation of monitoring systems to track trainee progress, job placements, entrepreneurial ventures, and skill competency levels.
- Collection of feedback from trainees, businesses, and industries to improve the curriculum and delivery.
Benefits of Partnering with NSDC
- NSDC provides globally recognized certification programs, enhancing the employability of trainees.
- NSDC’s network of employers will offer placement opportunities and ensure trainees gain relevant, in-demand skills.
- NSDC’s experience in vocational education ensures the curriculum is relevant to industry needs, addressing local skill gaps.
- NSDC will help secure funding through national schemes such as PMKVY and the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), while also providing resources for training.
Expected Outcomes
- Trainees will gain skills that increase their job prospects in both the local and national labor markets.
- Initiative will reduce unemployment rates by equipping dropouts with skills to enter the workforce or start their own businesses.
- Entrepreneurship development, more small-scale businesses will emerge, contributing to job creation and economic growth.
- Dropouts will be able to reintegrate into society through gainful employment or entrepreneurship, improving their socio-economic standing.
Budget and Funding
- Initiative will be funded through a combination of state and central government schemes, corporate partnerships, and NSDC grants.
- Taping into national initiatives such as PMKVY and NAPS for financial and resource support.
- Leveraging NSDC funding for training resources and certifications.
- Partnering with industries to secure CSR funding to help cover training costs and infrastructure development.
The establishment of “Centre for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship” in partnership with NSDC represents a vital step towards solving the pressing issue of unemployment among school and college dropouts in J&K. By providing industry-relevant skills and fostering entrepreneurial mindsets, this initiative not only supports the objectives of NEP 2020 but also creates a sustainable pathway to economic development and self-reliance for the youth of J&K.
(The Author is Assistant Professor, Department of Biotechnology; Govt. Degree College Pulwama.
Email: [email protected])
