New Delhi, July 9 (ANI): Labour and Employment Minister Oscar Fernandes disclosed today that the Government has formulated a National Skill Development policy.

Addressing a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee, he said the policy aims at empowering all individuals through improved skills, knowledge and internationally recognized qualifications to enable them access to decent employment and to promote inclusive national growth.

Unveiling the main features of the proposed policy to the members he said that it addresses the issues related to demand and supply, equity and access to ensure that skill development is inclusive in terms of gender, social divide (Schedule Caste /Schedule Tribe/Other Backward Class/Minorities and others), the location-divide (rural-urban), economic divide, difficult regions such as borders areas and hill areas.

He also revealed that the policy document encourages public private partnership to ensure that the needs of the industry are met in an effective and time-bound manner.

National Skill Development Coordination Board (under Planning Commission) and a National Skill Development Corporation (under Ministry of Finance) have also been set up, he informed the members.

He also said that the capacity of the national skills development system would be expanded substantially as a national mission.

It would be expanded immediately to 15 million during the 11th Plan and raised to 50 million by the end of the 12th Plan. For undertaking this massive expansion in capacity, besides current established approaches, innovative delivery models would be explored such as public private partnership, decentralized delivery, distance learning, and computerized vocational training.

Giving their suggestions, the members emphasized that skill development training should focus more on the needs of the domestic industry.

Provision for training to the contract labour was also suggested.

Some Members suggested separate skill development centers of girls and women in rural areas, which may have special facilities for widows and disabled women. (ANI)