Union Minister of Education and Skill Development Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena presented certificates to NDMC workers for completing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) program in Delhi . Shri Naresh Kumar, chief secretary of Delhi, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, MSDE, Shri Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, chairperson, NDMC, Shri Ved Mani Tiwari, COO, NSDC and other officials.

To augment skill training in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) jurisdiction, 900 candidates were trained in the month of August under Skill India Mission for completing the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. The initiative is co-funded by NDMC and Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) programme, a World Bank project under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE). The initiative was launched by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the strategic implementation and knowledge partner of MSDE and was inaugurated by the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena on August 5^th, 2022, and aims to upskill 25,000 workers in the first phase.

Congratulating all candidates on the occasion, Shri Pradhan said the initiative by NSDC and NDMC, under the guidance of Lt. Gov. of Delhi, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, is yet another step in the direction to transform India into a $5 trillion economy. As we move ahead with the resolve to fulfil the goal of Viksit Bharat, skill development assumes a critical role. Such initiatives play a crucial role in enabling the workforce to contribute to nation-building and making India Aatmanirbhar. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi outlined ‘Panch Pran’ for all citizens during the Amrit Kaal, we need to increase the productivity of our workforce to make India an economic superpower.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vinai Kumar Saxena, Lt. Gov. of Delhi congratulated all the 900 skilled trainees in different sectors and said that the RPL certificates will help them reach new height in their careers. He also stressed on the importance of upskilling the traditional artisans to achieve a holistic approach towards creating a robust skill development system. He further praised the importance of increase women participation in the workforce and appealed to women to come forward and join the upskilling programmes for increasing their employability.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process used to evaluate a person’s existing skill sets, knowledge and experience gained either by working on-the-job or learning over the years. Under this programme, the workers will be upskilled in multiple trades across construction, electrical, plumbing, pottery, handicrafts and more. The first phase of the programme will focus on upskilling 25,000 people in multiple job sectors, by November 2022, while 5,000 people will be upskilled through the entrepreneurship program in the second phase and 45,000 people will be upskilled in the third phase.

A mandatory orientation of 12 hours is provided to all beneficiaries comprising domain-specific training, familiarization with process of assessment, and orientation on tech-based soft skills and entrepreneurship, under the initiative.

The minister also highlighted that skill development has become aspirational today and it’s imperative to move beyond traditional trades. India is one of the largest digital payments markets in the world, we need to embrace digitisation like never before and learn new skills like Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Automation, Robotics, etc.
 

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MJPS/AK