Developing Skills in West Bengal

Updated on: Monday, January 02, 2012

Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association with the government of West Bengal announced their mission to set up skill development programmes in West Bengal, recently.

Sourav Daspatnaik, chairman of the skill development task force set up by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry spoke on the role of employment exchanges and how they can ideally act as the platform for employers and prospective employees whose skills can be mapped to provide an appropriate opportunity for the employers to select employees with the right practical skills required.

Dr Parijat De, director technical education, government of West Bengal highlighted the need for industry participation in skill development programmes through cluster development projects. Dr De said, “Cluster development projects have been successful in all parts of the country from Ludhiana to Allepy. It would be no different in Bengal.”
 
The cluster development programmes would train for skills applicable in various fields be it handicraft, industrial or even agricultural. Dr De said, “Unique skills with great demand would also be given training for, such as the technique of constructing an absolute arch is popular only in Murshidabad. This skill would have great value in the outside market.”

The trainers of such skills would have to be recruited on the basis of knowledge and experience. The registration for trainers would be open to the public with an easy registration procedure. The details required would be name, area of expertise and contact number. Dr De added, “Incubation centres would be setup, so as to encourage trainees to become future entrepreneurs too.”

Sourav Daspatnaik welcomed the thought and said, “It is a necessary step which has not been fully planned, though it would be part of our entire project plan.” The next meeting would be on January 31, 2012, when the project plan would be unveiled to the public.

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