Guwahati: In an exclusive conversation with the Business North East (BNE), Ankur Jain, Mission Director, Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) details out about works done in the skill development sector since 2017.

BNE: Assam's story of skill development so far?
Mission Director: Assam Skill Development Mission (ASDM) began it's journey in the year 2017. It was envisioned to impart training for various programmes. And out of 4 lakhs trainees, ASDM was able to provide certificates to 3 lakh skilled youth. ASDM so far have resulted in making a good placement record.

BNE: How far the work under Assam Skill University has progressed?
Mission Director: Construction of Assam Skill University is on full swing and is likely to be completed on time.
The aim of Assam Skill University is to have a holistic approach in skilling on every aspect of skilling in the state. It has always been a focus to start the short term and industry centric courses to go along with the requisites of the industries.

Industry is the key connect in skilling. Hence, we need to work in close coordination with the industrialists in order to provide a skilled workforce.

BNE: What is the skill gap analysis in Assam and your study?
Mission Director: Most of the students here are attracted towards the government jobs. Unknown, of the fact that skills will earn you better money and respect.

To make the youth self reliant and skilled to get a better job, here we need to come up with various training programmes and skill courses for the youth.

For instance, agriculture sector is currently the dominant one in this state. Considering the advantages of the region from all aspects, it can give a fillip to the rural economy.

BNE: How the ecosystem in NorthEast has changed over the years and it's impact on job sector?
Mission Director: From past 5 years, the state has been the most peaceful state. Although the region did witnessed bouts of unrest in the past, it has taken a forward leap towards development and has seen the face of advancements in the recent years.

BNE: What are the sunrise sectors in Assam which is in need of skilled manpower?
Mission Director: Government is taking up several initiatives with the expansion of communication, road and bridge networks in the region.

Infrastructure is one such area where the government is focused at. We are trying to fill in the spaces with the workforce so that the state can experience a world class infrastructure. Highways, bridges, rail links, University complexes, are few of the developments of infrastructure.

It can be noted that we are in a need of a greater trade force.

As we are focused onto industries like agriculture, home grown industries the requisite workforce will be trained by us and make them eligible as industry specific, thereafter.

Moreover hospitality industry is a growing sector. So the Assam Government have come up with NorthEast Skill Centre (NESC) in collaboration with IT Singapore. We get the students trained under an international class curriculum by imparting their methodologies along with trainers specially trained by the industries and IT Singapore.

We have over 90 percent placement rate. 4th batch is going on and admissions are already going on for the 5th batch.

We have nominal fees for such courses af NESC. Yet, we have collaborated with banks to help the youth in acquiring the skills easily.

BNE: Is skilling a viable career option? Tell us about skill yatra?
Mission Director: We will come up with skill yatra on a pilot basis in four districts of Assam namely- Gourigaon, Kamrup Rural, Nalbari and Darrang. On thi skill yatra , we will connect with students of 9-12th grade and drop outs as well as their parents and explain them on a questionnaire query basis on how skilling is a viable career option. Thereafter, followed by a registration process.
We hope to have a positive impact from this programme.

BNE: Number of youths skilled in Assam on yearly basis?
Mission Director: Over one lakh students have been skilled through this mission. With the other departments coming forward, we will have more trainees getting skilled through our mission.

Apart from them we are trying to connect with bigger private companies, where we can use their CSR fundings for upskilling the youth which will a total economic fillip.

Over 2.5 lakh people need to be skilled to make an impact over the sizeable economy of Assam.

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