Jammu, March 16: J&K Government has initiated process of devising fresh skill policy and skill roadmap for Jammu & Kashmir so that future strategies are formulated to prepare youth on skill and entrepreneurship development, a statement issued by JKSDM said today.
To kick start the process, a preliminary meeting was chaired by Mission Director Skill Development Mission Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah which was attended by Director, Skill Development Department Mr. Sajad Hussain Ganai, Director( Finance), Skill Development Department Mr, Mohamad Ayub Nasir, senior staff of JKSDM and other skill development stakeholders at Jammu.
On the occasion, Dr. Syed Abid said, “To gain in-depth understanding of the existing skill ecosystem, a fresh analysis is essential to ascertain the demand and supply of the labour market, industry requirements etc. This study will provide grass root level information about the different parameters required for developing the skill roadmap of J&K.”
“There is a need to channelize the talent of youth in the right direction and this skill gap study will help in charting future strategy to prepare our youth for jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities,” said Dr. Syed Abid.
“A skill gap study will be conducted to ascertain the exact picture of demand and supply of skilled workforce in J&K which will be followed by youth aspiration survey to gain information about the skill aspirations of present day youth,” told Dr. Syed Abid.
The skill gap study will estimate demand and supply of skills at district level and translate the gap in demand and supply into a UT and district level action plan. It will also ascertain the priority sectors for skilling in J&K that can provide employment to the local youth, identify job roles that are in high demand in these priority sectors and categorize skills that are required by the industry for these job roles.
Youth aspiration surveys through focus group discussions shall be conducted in each district to understand the skilling and learning aspirations of the region’s youth, their preference for various types of jobs and location, employment in J&K UT and outside. The surveys shall also capture the willingness of youth to migrate outside the district, UT and country and identify top industrial and employment hubs preferred by the youth of J&K.
“Based on the findings of the surveys, a skill policy will be devised which shall become guiding force for the government to undertake skill and entrepreneurship development initiatives in J&K.
“In order to arrive at a feasible skill policy for J&K, the Mission is intending to hire services of quality consultancy organization to undertake the process,” said Dr. Syed Abid.
During the meeting, EOIs for conducting Skill Gap Study, Youth Aspiration Survey and Formulation of Skill Policy were finalized.
In the same meeting, it was informed that JKSDM has undertaken the process of creation of UT level MIS (Management Information System). The process for inviting EOIs from reputed consultancy services for developing MIS has been initiated as was given out in the meeting.
The meeting was informed that the software will contain all the relevant information about the programs being implemented by various skill implementing departments and will highlight the skill development initiatives being taken by the Government.
The software will be used by Skill Development Department also to track pass outs from ITIs, Polytechnics and PMKVY scheme. The tracking mechanism shall act as a data dashboard which will give accurate information about the number of skilled youth in J&K and the skills possessed by them and will in turn facilitate the process of industry employers to seek their services.
MIS will promote data sharing and will avoid overlapping of programs implemented by various skill development stakeholders. It will provide support in data analytics which will contribute in providing quality implementation and monitoring of skill training programs.
It was pointed out that MIS is being also linked the national portal and other labour management portal across the country and will track the progress of training providers, transition of candidates from trainees to employees. A mobile application will also be incorporated which will be used for uprgadation of skill programs and can be used by both trainees/passouts and employers to seek information at various levels.
It was also given out that prospective employers will submit their demand into the portal and the same information will reach to registered candidates on the portal and this way they can approach the employers or vice versa.
Dr. Syed Abid stressed on the officers to complete the formulation of EOIs within the stipulated time frame so that work on the development of MIS may be initiated on priority basis.