The Kerala government is roping in private sector investments for imparting skills, which are required by industry globally. It aims to train at least 20,000 apprentices in the next two years.

The Tata Group is already committed to invest in the State for providing skills training in hospitality and retail management. Saudi Arabia based Eram Group will set up a centre for providing skill training for oil and gas sector. The State government is in talks with other Indian companies for setting up skilling units in the State.

Competitive edge Kerala Labour Minister Shibu Baby John told Business Line that the workforce of Kerala has migrated to different parts of the world. But today, the skill level in those countries has also increased substantially and Keralites are losing their competitive edge. So the State government wants to regain that edge and make Kerala the skilling destination for the youths across the country.

For giving a further flip to the whole process, the State Government would also be holding a summit called Nypunyam in February 2016. The summits will bring experts in the realm of skill development from India and other countries, who will deliberate on various methods to enhance the quality and quantity of skill training in Kerala.

Public-pvt partnership The Minister said that the State government would implement the skilling programme on a public-private partnership basis, where companies will bring in its manpower and equipment and train the students.

It will create infrastructure but the responsibility of running the programme will be with the companies. Big corporate houses always complain about lack of quality manpower, therefore now is the opportunity to come forward and train the youths.

The Minister said that Tata Group would be setting up their unit in the Skilling campus near Kochi airport. Abu Dhabi based New Medical Centre Group of Companies would be proving training for nurses especially for handling bio-medical devices. Kerala Government will not only train local youths but also from other states.

He said that he recently attended the World Skill Olympics, in Brazil and realised that the country was at least 25 years behind global standards for skills training. Therefore, new skilling programme for areas such as robotics, automation, security system and mechatronics are being devised.

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