Question : EXPANSION OF TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR LABOURERS

(a) Whether one of the important determinants of labour productivity is the working skills of the workers;

(b) if so, whether the percentage of vocationally trained persons at the age group of 20-40 are very less as compared to the other developing countries;

(c) if so, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the projections of increase in labour force are required to train 8-10 million labourers every year;

(e) if so, whether the present infrastructure available for vocational/ technical/ professional training programmes has a capacity of 2-2.3 million labourers; and

(f) if so, the steps taken by the Government to generate resources to expand the capacity of training programmes so that a large number of new entrants can be absorbed?

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI K. CHANDRASEKHAR RAO)

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) & (c) As per the information available, around 5% of the workers in the age group of 20-24 receive skill training through formal training institutions in India. This is low as compared to many developing countries. However, majority of the workers in the country acquire skills through informal means after joining a particular job.

(d) Labour force is projected to grow 6 to 8 million per annum.

(e) Various institutions in public and private sectors are engaged in imparting skill training to the new entrants to the labour force and retraining to the workers already engaged in work. Their exact number is not maintained. However, the annual training capacity through the major training providers in government is around 30 lakh.

(f) Following steps have been taken to expand the skill building capacity in the country:

(i)	Private sector is encouraged to set up training institutes.

(ii)	Second and third shift are being introduced in existing vocational training institutes	to utilize the infrastructural facilities optimally.

(iii)	Training facilities in North Eastern States including Sikkim and also in J&K are being expanded.

(iv)	100 ITI`s are being upgraded as Centre of Excellence with domestic funding.