India Launches Program for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship

To boost skill development at the district level, India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) signed a contract on Wednesday (October 9) with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore for introducing a two-year fellowship program Mahatma Gandhi National Fellowship (MGNF) program.

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 programs at national, state, and district levels.

The MGNF program has a built-in 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 program have to be in 21- to 30-year 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.

SANKALP is a World Bank loan assisted project that aims to strengthen institutional mechanisms for skill development and increase access to quality and market-relevant training for youth across the country.

Four key result areas have been identified under SANKALP. These are (i) Institutional Strengthening; (ii) Quality Assurance; (iii) Inclusion; and (iv) Expanding Skills through public-private partnerships.