Dehradun: The Uttarakhand government is preparing to revamp its skill development framework to align youth training with industry requirements. The proposed measures include district-level assessments of employment opportunities, standardisation of training programmes and third-party audits to evaluate training quality.
The plan was discussed at a meeting held at the Secretariat on Friday under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, a 1992-batch IAS officer of the Uttarakhand cadre. Representatives from the Skill Development and Employment Department, industry and private training institutes participated in the discussions.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to prepare District Skill Development Plans for all districts at the earliest and upload them to the designated portal.
Training Courses to Reflect Local Employment Opportunities
The government plans to assess employment prospects, demand for specific skills and the availability of training facilities in each district before deciding on training programmes.
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During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed officials to identify sectors offering employment opportunities where suitable training courses are currently unavailable. New skill development programmes are to be introduced based on the requirements of these sectors.
The government expects this approach to help address the gap between the skills imparted through training and those required for employment. However, details regarding new courses, district-wise targets and implementation timelines have not yet been announced.
Industry Demand to Guide Skill Development Planning
The meeting also focused on identifying gaps between the skills demanded by industries and the training currently provided by institutions.
Officials were asked to assess employment opportunities across different sectors alongside existing training targets. Emerging skill areas will receive particular attention while preparing the plans.
The government will draw on studies conducted by the Setu Aayog and coordinate with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and reputed engineering colleges to develop training programmes that reflect actual industry requirements.
Third-Party Audits to Assess Training Quality
Alongside expanding skill development initiatives, the government plans to establish standards for training programmes operating across the state.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to conduct regular assessments and arrange third-party audits to examine whether training programmes are meeting the prescribed standards.
The proposed audits are intended to assess the quality and consistency of training delivered by different institutions. Details regarding the auditing agency, evaluation process and schedule have not yet been provided.
Focus on Employment-Oriented Training
The Chief Secretary emphasised that skill development programmes should go beyond providing training and equip young people with skills suited to industry requirements.
He called for better coordination among different skill development schemes and programmes, along with an effective action plan to improve the link between training and employment.
The proposed district-level plans are expected to help the government identify local skill requirements and assess the training facilities available to meet them.
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