Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela hosted in Six District Nodal ITIs of J&K

JAMMU : Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS), being monitored by Director General of Trainings (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), GOI, proposes to utilize the existing training facilities in the industries and establishments to develop and train an industry-ready manpower from the available skilled and unskilled young population of India.

The Scheme is run through the well formulated portal: www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in where both the applicant candidate and establishments could register and enter into a contract as per the conditions laid under Apprenticeship Act. Apprenticeship Training Scheme, leads to the engagement of apprentices in the establishments to facilitate desired level of productivity, besides it also gives an opportunity to the youth for an exposure to actual job situations in the industry, while they earn stipend to meet their expenses too.

A nation-wide program of conducting ‘Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela (PMNAM)’ on the second Monday of every month, in 1/3 Districts of every State/ UT, has been devised by DGT. The Directorate of Skill Development, UT of J&K is also taking part in this nation-wide campaign with full enthusiasm and vigour. A grand PMNAM event was conducted across Six District Nodal ITIs of J&K led by Government ITI Jammu. This Mela too saw an overwhelming response with the participation of approximately 1200 candidates/trainees and active participation of more than 120 Establishments overall.

The event started with the e-inauguration at Government ITI Jammu by Director Skill Development, Sudershan Kumar, accompanied by Regional Director, RDSDE, UT of J&K & UT of Ladakh, S Santhimanalan. All the other 5 venues, at their respective Districts, i.e. at Govt. ITI Samba, Govt ITI Kathua, Govt ITI Srinagar, Govt. ITI Budgam and Govt ITI Ganderbal, joined the event through Video Conference. Director Skill Development himself interacted with the various stakeholders, i.e. Establishment (Industry) representatives and Candidates to get a first hand view of the kind of expectations in them and also to assess the scale and outcome of the event.

The highlights of the event were the addresses by Anuradha Gupta, District Commissioner Samba and the President of Industry Association, Kathua, Ajeet Bawa and President Industrial Association Lassipora, Mohammad Muzaffer Ahanger, joining through Video Conferencing.

Director Skill Development expressed his satisfaction over the arrangements made for the Apprenticeship Mela and appealed to the fresh and pass-out trainees as well as to the Industry, to participate in the Apprenticeship Programme, which is still in its nascent stage in J&K.

In his address, he sought to redefine the collaboration of Industry and Industrial Training Institutes, while Regional Director RDSDE, showed satisfaction over the outcome and progress of the Apprenticeship Scheme in J&K.

Multiple registration stalls were put up at Government ITI Jammu for counselling and registration of Candidates and Establishments. A short presentation on the Apprenticeship Scheme was made by Vivek Sagar Sharma, Incharge Apprenticeship Scheme. The Apprenticeship Melas being organized in every district of the UT and subsequent engagement of Apprentices under Apprenticeship Act 1961, is bringing in a great volume of opportunities to the youth of J&K. This is in a way clearing a passage for gainful employment of local youth in new and upcoming industries in J&K.

Joint Director Skill Development Jammu, Farooq Ahmed Khan; Principal Govt. ITI Jammu, Rajindra Kumar; Superintendent ITI R S Pura, Rajesh Gupta, also accompanied Director Skill Development during the inaugural event.