National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme: Explained
Sami Aslam
Introduction
Cabinet approved NAPS to train apprentices
Apprenticeship training is the efficient and noblest manner of providing skill training and developing skilled persons in the country
NAPS is a part of labor reforms amending the factories act, labor laws act and apprenticeship act
Major punishments such as imprisonment and liabilities pertaining to Apprenticeship act are removed through the amendments
NAPS labor reforms - Amended Acts
Factories Act – Better worker safety and doubled provision for working overtime
Labor laws act – Companies with less than 40 workers exempted from labor law provisions
Apprenticeship act - Removal of mandate for absorption of half apprentices
Target of NAPS
To train 50 lakh apprentices by 2020
Nodal Agency
Ministry of Skill development and Entrepreneurship
Implemented by Director of General Training (DGT)
Funding
Initial corpus of 10000 crore rupees allocated to NAPS
50 percent of the funds borne by GOI
25 % of stipend amount given by GOI to employers
Basic training is also supported by GOI in NAPS
About Apprenticeship training
Apprenticeship training is one of the focus areas of National policy for skill development
Provides industry led training program
Apprenticeship training serves as the most efficient and effective means of formal training
It provides practice oriented training program
Apprenticeship training works hand in hand with the industry especially with MSMEs
Apprenticeship training facilitates increase in opportunities by ten fold by 2020
PM Modi recently launched the Apprenticeship portal to network employees, companies and government
It is expected to become the country’s most powerful skill delivery program
Need for Apprenticeship program
Migration of rural youth (2 million annually app)
Employment opportunities are less due to high rate of migration
As a result youth land up in low paid or under paid jobs
Low profitability in agriculture
No interest in Agriculture
Urgent need to empower rural youth and women
Nearly 74 percent of Indian households have monthly income less than 5000 rupees according SECC, 2011
According to National sample survey, average monthly expenditure in urban areas is 2630 rupees compared to 1430 rupees in rural areas
Women constitute only 25 % in the total work force
Lower education
Lack of skill training
Now, only 10 percent of the workforce is trained including both formal and informal sector
Benefits of NAPS
NAPS aims to skill apprentices to the tune of 5 million by the year 2020
Youth hostels will be established in main cities to support youth for the first 6 to 12 months
Employment department in each district empowered to provide career guidance programs in lieu of NAPS to youth pertaining to education or job
NAPS aims to create job opportunities for rural youth in rural areas itself and minimize the migration problems
NAPS trains rural youth on modern agriculture practices and technology to make them agriculture based entrepreneurs
Training on farm machinery is provided to the youth
Non farm apprentice training on a short term basis is provided
NAPS works in alignment with the goals of PURA
NAPS interfaces institutions like Khadi and Village industries, educational institutions, Small farmers agri business association, NGO etc to impart skill training to the apprentices in various job creating fields
Agro tourism based industries offer new employment opportunities and skill training is provided in these areas
Maharashtra State Agro and Tourism (MART) is a successful model with more than 150 centers run privately
This successful model is followed in Kerala, Rajasthan, H.P and Gujarat
NAPS develops such innovations
Conclusion
NAPS trains millions of youth and is projected to be the vital scheme to drive skill development in India
It works in tandem with the industry providing skill training with job oriented outcomes
NAPS provides skill training at grass roots level
It helps prevent the migration of rural youth to urban areas by establishing network with different rural non governmental institutions and provide training to rural youth and get employment in the rural areas
The scheme will encourage third party agencies to impart skill training where in house training facility is unavailable
Overall, NAPS helps GOI to achieve the Skill India mission
