News

Volume 9 Issue 7 - June 15, 2012

National Skill Development policy leaves much to be desired

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: The National Skill Development policy aims to train 500 million people by 2022 and 15 million people every year. However, the policy does not set any target for skilling people with disabilities despite mentioning that the current level of participation of people with disabilities in skill programmes is very.

The policy neither gives any target nor suggests a quota that should apply to the skill development programmes. It merely mentions that people with varying degrees of physical and mental disabilities will be provided with appropriate adjustment and skills training to bring them in the economic mainstream and make them productive citizens. It does, however, mention the need for reasonable accommodation that enables people with disabilities to access the facilities.

The National Skill Development Corporation (N.S.D.C.) that was set up to fulfil the policy has agreements with several private institutions to meet the annual target of 15 million. But these agreements do not have any clause on inclusion of people with disabilities.

It may be mentioned here that the Sub-Group on Economic Empowerment under the Working Group on Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities formed for the 12th Plan process did include this issue in their recommendations. It stated that 333 million people will be trained by 2017 and 3 percent of that, which is 10 million people with disabilities should be part of this policy in the 12th Plan period.