Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has launched the 'Customized Crash Course Programme for COVID Frontline Workers' under the central component of PMKVY 3.0 on 18.06.2021 with the aim to train about one lakh COVID warriors in six healthcare related job roles as well as about 2,800 drivers for handling and transportation of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) across the country. The objectives of the programme are to meet the upsurge in demand of skilled healthcare workers, reduce the burden of healthcare professionals and provide timely healthcare services in the country.

Customized crash course would provide avenues to youth for taking free-of-cost skill training, certification and opportunity for wage employment. Under this programme, the training is being imparted in six healthcare job roles, namely, Basic Care Support, Home Care Support, Advanced Care Support, Sample Collection Support, Emergency Care Support and Medical Equipment Support; duration of which varies from 144 hours to 312 hours.

Under fresh skilling, 21-days of theory-based classroom training is provided followed by approximately 90 days On-the-Job Training (OJT) in healthcare facility such as health centres, hospitals, diagnostic facilities, sample collection centres, etc.

Under Upskilling, training is of around one-week duration as a bridge course on the above mentioned six job roles.

For the training of drivers in handling and transportation of the LMO, duration is of 217 hours/ 27 days. The special training of HMV license-holder drivers in transportation of Hazardous Chemicals as well as LMO, along with focus on ‘defensive driving’ while transporting LMO will be conducted.

The customized crash course programme has a financial outlay of Rs. 276 crore. The Ministry is making efforts to involve network of hospitals, medical colleges, nursing homes, diagnostic centres, etc. to make this programme successful.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, ShriDharmendraPradhan in a written reply in the RajyaSabha today.

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MJPS/AK