Hoping to push forward the government’s agenda of Skill India, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has asked public sector units to identify vacant land or infrastructure with them that can be used for setting up skilling centres.

“With massive infrastructure and sectoral presence over the length and breadth of country, Central Public Sector Enterprises can play an important role in skills development activities,” the department said in a recent missive to all administrative ministries.

Pointing out that PSUs can play an important role in large-scale skill development programmes, the DPE said: “PSUs are advised to … explore the possibility of sharing the training infrastructure with agencies —National Skill Development Corporation, Sector Skill Councils that are working … for skill training of youth.”

With 298 PSUs in the country, officials expect at least some of them to come forward and provide infrastructure for skilling centres.

Under the revamped National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, the NDA government targets to skill, re-skill and up-skill 40 crore persons by 2022, but challenges of adequate skilling centres and trainers have made this an uphill task.

In a review meeting held by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, it was decided that existing government infrastructure could be used for the purpose in off-hours or if not in use.

Since then, the Ministry has been in talks with various agencies looking for available space. For instance, it has started re-developing old railway containers into skilling centres. It is also in talks with the Railway Ministry to use its facilities, including stations for running skill development centres.

Additionally, the government also plans to set up 1,500 multi-skilling centres in the country this year.

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