Question : Skilled Labour Force

(a) whether only a very small percentage of our total labour force comes under the category of skilled labourer and if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether there is a need for implementing any scheme at block level in rural areas for expanding the scope of skill development;

(c) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d) whether only a small percentage of the work force is skilled compared to other countries; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

(a) to (e) Yes, Madam. It is estimated that only 4.69% of the total workforce in India has undergone formal skill training as compared to 68% in UK, 75% in Germany, 52% in USA, 80% in Japan and 96% in South Korea. The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015, approved by the Government on 1st July, 2015, has the provision for high priority to socio-economic growth of rural areas of the Country. Setting up of Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode especially in unserved blocks of the Country and encouraging State Governments to set up Kaushal Vardhan Kendras (KVKs) at panchayat level for mobilising and imparting skill training pertaining to local employment/livelihood opportunities to school drop-outs, adolescent girls, housewives and rural youth, are some of the steps to meet the challenge of promoting skill development in the rural areas of the Country.