CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday emphasised the need to strengthen the State skill development missions across the country.
This would help make them nodal points for the convergence of skill initiatives for optimum utilisation, besides its three-tier decentralisation at the state, district and block levels.
Presiding over the fifth and final meeting of the Subgroup of Chief Ministers on Skill Development of Niti Aayog in New Delhi, its convener Badal recommended involvement of panchayats, municipalities and civil society organisations for mobilising skill-training aspirants.
He told the fellow Chief Ministers that the draft report of the subgroup was nearing completion. Highlighting the key recommendations such as exploring the possibility of legislation on the “right of youth to skill development” as already done by the Chhattisgarh Government, he said: “We already have empowered our citizens with the Right to Information, Right to Education and Right to Food Security. Time has now come for the Right to Skill Development to every youth in the country,” Badal said.
The subgroup also recommended mobilising the private sector for skill development apart from opening up of National Skill Development Council and Sector Skill Council branches at the state or regional level for better co-ordination.
Stressing the need for improving access and outreach, the subgroup recommended the initiation of vocational training from middle school and giving flexibility to states to introduce traditional skills and to promote entrepreneurship.