SME Times News Bureau | 09 Oct, 2019
To boost skill development at the district level,
the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) on Wednesday
signed a contract with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore for
introducing a two-year fellowship programme Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship
(MGNF) programme.
The contract was signed in the presence of R.
Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resource
Development, K P Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship G Raghuram, Director, IIM, Bangalore, Junaid Ahmad, Country
Director, World Bank, and officials from the Ministry of Skill Development
& Entrepreneurship, GoI.
The program has been developed under the able
guidance and leadership of Dr.Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister for Skill
Development and Entrepreneurship; who has given a renewed focus to skill
development at the district level, since his joining at the Ministry.
Designed under Skills Acquisition and Knowledge
Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) the fellowship aims to address the
challenge of non-availability of personnel for implementation of various programmes
at national, state and district levels.
The MGNF programme has an in-built component of
on-ground practical experience with the district administration.
Launched on a pilot basis in 75 districts across
Gujarat, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand,
eligible fellows for the programme have to be in 21-30 years age-group, have a
graduation degree from a recognized university and be citizens of India.
Proficiency in official language of state of fieldwork will be mandatory.
Commenting on the partnership, KP Krishnan, Secretary, Skill Development and
Entrepreneurship, said, “A dearth of individuals who can
implement and manage skill development programmes at the grass roots level is a
deficit we seek to address with this fellowship programme with IIM Bangalore.”
“Through this endeavour we are ensuring
participation of a larger community for local merit good and we are certain
that this program will attract great talent which will further strengthen the
skill component at the district administration level,” he further added.
R.
Subrahmanyam, Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human
Resource Development, said, “Today, our nation's youth is
willing and is anxious to contribute to our nation building exercise and to the
society at large. It has to be our effort to ensure that they are given the
right opportunities to extend their support.”
In the course of their training, fellows will
work under the close supervision of state skill development missions (SSDM) and
will spend time and effort in understanding skilling challenges and gaps in the
district.
They are expected to enrich skilling programmes
by bringing in fresh thinking to local planning, execution, community
interaction and outcome management.
Fellows will receive a stipend of Rs. 50,000 in
the first year and Rs. 60,000 in the second year. On completion of their
engagement, they will be awarded a Certificate in Public Policy and Management
from IIM Bangalore.