National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme

• The Union Government notified National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme. It is for the first time a scheme has been notified to offer financial incentives to employers.
• The Scheme has an outlay of 10000 crore rupees with a target of 50 Lakh apprentices to be trained by 2019-20.

About this scheme:

• The National Policy of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015 launched by government focuses on apprenticeship as one of the key components for creating skilled manpower in India. The policy proposes to work pro-actively with the industry including MSME to facilitate tenfold increase opportunities in the country by 2020.
• 25% of the prescribed stipend payable to an apprentice would be reimbursed to the employers directly by the Government of India.
• The scheme also supports basic training, which is an essential component of apprenticeship training by sharing of basic training cost with basic training providers in respect of apprentices who come directly to apprenticeship without any formal trade training (fresher apprentices).
• All transactions including registration by employers, apprentices, registration of contract and payment to employers will be made as online mode.
• Eligible employers shall engage apprentices in a band of 2.5% to 10% of the total strength of the establishment.
• Employers need to register on the apprenticeship portal and must have TIN/TAN and any one of EPFO/ESIC/LIN. Employers are invited to register on the apprenticeship portal to avail benefits under the scheme.
• Brand Ambassadors will be appointed for states and for local industrial clusters to act as facilitators and promoters to promote apprenticeship training.

Analysis:

• Training is considered to be one of the most efficient ways to develop skilled manpower for the country. It provides for an industry led, practice oriented, effective and efficient mode of formal training.
• This Scheme will catalyze the entire apprenticeship ecosystem in the country and it will offer a win-win situation for all stakeholders. It is expected to become one of the most powerful skill-delivery vehicle in the country

By: Vishal