SANKALP & STRIVE Schemes to boost Skill India Mission

• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two new World Bank supported schemes of Rs. 6,655 crore - Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE).

About SANKALP:

• SANKALP is Rs 4,455 crore centrally sponsored scheme including Rs. 3,300 crore loan support from World Bank.
• SANKALP envisages setting up of Trainers and Assessors academies with self-sustainable models.
• SANKALP aims at enhancement of inclusion of marginalized communities including women. Scheduled Castes (SCs), Schedule Tribes (STs) and Persons with Disabilities (PWD) to provide skill training opportunities to the underprivileged and marginalised section of the society.

About STRIVE:

• STRIVE is a Rs. 2,200 crore - central sector scheme, with half of the scheme outlay as World bank loan assistance.
• STRIVE scheme shall incentivize ITIs to improve overall performance including apprenticeship by involving SMEs, business association and industry clusters.

Analysis:

• There has been a long felt need for a national architecture for promoting convergence, ensuring effective governance and regulation of skill training and catalysing industry efforts in vocational training space.
• The two schemes shall address this need by setting up national bodies for accreditation & certification which shall regulate accreditation and certification in both long and short term Vocational Education and Training (VET).
• The schemes aim to develop a robust mechanism for delivering quality skill development training by strengthening institutions
• The schemes shall provide the required impetus to the National Skill Development Mission, 2015 and its various sub missions
• The schemes will develop a skilling ecosystem that will support the country's rise in the Ease of Doing Business index by steady supply of skilled workforce to the industry. The schemes will also work towards increasing the aspirational value of skill development programs by increasing the marketability of skills, through better industry connect and quality assurance

By: Vishal