Skill Vibes: Pause..Reflect..

India is on the fast track to becoming a developed nation, with a booming economy, rapid urbanization, and ambitious growth targets. However, solid waste management continues to be a dampener. There are of course exceptional islands of excellence worth emulating. Still, inspite of the Swatch Bharat Campaign, mass awareness, adoption of good practices and technology integration remains limited. It is estimated that every day, urban centers in India generate about 150,000 tons of solid waste, with a broad breakup of organic waste 40 to 60%, recyclable 10 to 15%, plastic 8 to12%, inert 5 to 8% and hazardous 2 to 3%, of which only 70-75% is collected, and even less—around 20-25%—is actually treated. This stark gap is not just a challenge of infrastructure or technology but also of skill and will, both at the Govt at all levels and the public at large. While technical "skills" in solid waste management (SWM) remain limited, the "will" to address these gaps comprehensivel...

"Atithi Devo Bhava" was a very powerful tag line used by the Ministry of Tourism. These three words sum up the Indian culture in the way Indian families believe in treating their guests. This campaign played a crucial role in fostering a more welcoming and respectful environment for tourists in India, thereby increasing Intenational tourist arrival by 10 -12 % and domestic tourist by 7 -9 %.  Unfortunately, the impact was short lived and soon forgotten.  We all understand that tourism has the potential to transform the country by stimulating economic growth, enhancing cultural exchange and promoting sustainable development. It not only contributes to the GDP directly by generating revenue from various sector like hospitality, transportation, retail, entertainment etc, it also has a multiplier effect in sector like agriculture and construction.  It is encouraging to see rise in infrastructure spending with focus on good quality roads, airports, and railways. The recent uni...

A n  analysis by a leading business news paper shows that 22.2 per cent of certified candidates were placed under all versions of PMKVY as on March 14, 2023. The overall numbers have seen some variation between phases. Overall, f ewer than one in four candidates certified under a key government skill development scheme have been placed.  There are several reasons to this questionable performance which can be discussed at length some other time, however, one of the most important reasons is the compromised quality of training and assessment. As they say, bad news travels fast, hence the resultant impact on placements.  Perhaps it is time to shift the focus of such schemes from Employment to Employability. While employment is essential for economic stability and growth, it serves as a short-term goal to address immediate needs and measure program success. Employability, on the other hand, goes beyond merely obtaining a job; it involves developing skills, knowledge, and atti...

I t was 2 am in the dead of night when my phone startled me awake. I saw it was a call from the hospital where my mother, aged 91, was undergoing treatment in the ICU. My heart raced as multiple thoughts flooded my mind. The hospital staff urgently asked me to come to the radiology department for an immediate MRI of my mother's brain. Earlier that afternoon, she had a pulmonary procedure under general anaesthesia and hadn't fully recovered yet. On reaching the MRI lab, curious about the emergency, I inquired further. The MRI technician explained that his machine was fully booked, so they created emergencies based on available slots rather than the patient's medical condition. Needless to say, his explanation and attitude rubbed me the wrong way. But knowing my mother's history with a brain stroke eight years ago, I decided to proceed with the MRI despite my reservations. Inside the closed doors of the MRI lab, I could hear the technician raising his voice while my mothe...

The effectiveness of any skill development program heavily depends on the support provided to students throughout their journey.  An integral part of this support is skill counselling, which aims to guide and assist students during the mobilization, admissions, and assessments, including Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Unfortunately, the current state of skill counselling in India leaves much to be desired. There is a significant shortage of dedicated counselling professionals who can provide the necessary guidance and support to students as they navigate the complex skill development landscape. This shortage becomes particularly evident during the mobilization, admission, and placement phases when students require accurate information about courses, career prospects, hiring practices, and the relevance of different programs to their goals.  Some of it can be offset by technology (kiosks, websites), or through print material(brochures, leaflets) but may not be able to rep...

2005-06 were the early years when people were getting re-energized to the idea of skill development. Several platforms were getting created to bring stakeholders together to exchange views and discuss challenges and possible solutions.  It was one of these meetings where an idea was initiated to engage the senior and mid-management of the training system into taking some number of classes in the Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) to make the training process more efficient. This also had some added advantages where the senior and mid-management could get a first-hand feel of the training institutes and would also keep the staff at the institute more alert. However, the response of one senior representative was alarming, as he stated that he had worked hard to advance in his career and did not want to return to the institute. The mindset and culture within the training system revealed by his statement remain unchanged even now after 18 years.  Nevertheless, there is merit in...