The Hindu Business Line : 1.5-cr skilled workers shortage seen by 2015

Tamil Nadu is likely to face a shortage of 1.5 crore skilled workers by 2015, according to a study by ICRA Management Consulting Services on ‘Gap analysis of skill sets in Tamil Nadu’.

About two-thirds of this shortage would be felt in the high growth industries such as IT, ITES, manufacturing, automotive, leather, construction, textiles, light engineering and financial services. About one crore workers would be required for low-end jobs alone.

However, the Government plans to control this situation by starting grassroot level skill development initiatives. This includes 1-2 year courses focused on labour-intensive work.

“With an investment of Rs 500 crore in such an initiative, about 10 lakh candidates can be trained each year,” said Mr R. Raghuttama Rao, Managing Director, ICRA Management Consulting Services, at Connect 2007, a two-day seminar organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

Programmes

Cluster-based skill development programmes — sponsored by specific industries — could address skills shortage at medium-end jobs. For the high-end jobs skills shortage, ICRA proposed a public-private partnership model to create centres of excellence across the State.

Mr G. Viswanathan, Founder and Chancellor, Vellore Institute of Technology, pointed to the Knowledge Commission’s recommendation of having around 1,500 universities in the country to tide over the projected skills shortage.

With about 370 universities currently, it would be a difficult task to reach 1,500 without seeking help from private players, he said.

“The Government needs to be liberal to private institutions, with regard to fees and syllabi constitution, if this goal has to be reached,” he added.

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