Fixing The Skills Deficit
Business Today|April 09, 2017

India Has Embarked on the World’s Biggest Skill Development Programme. Can This Bridge the Talent Gap?

Anilesh S. Mahajan
Fixing The Skills Deficit

When Shruti Malik drives past farmland being ploughed on the outskirts of Yamunanagar, Haryana, she has reason to feel proud. She knows one of the men on the tractors at work was once her student at IRIS Learning, the skilling institute she runs in the town, which has so far trained 2,400 young people in sugarcane cultivation, polyhouse farming and the use of different kinds of agricultural implements. After a month-long training stint at IRIS, Rakesh Sandhu bought a tractor with a loan from the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna – a scheme to facilitate micro business ventures begun in 2016 – which he hires out (with himself as driver) for a fee to farmers around Yamunanagar who need their fields ploughed.

“After the training, my students command a premium,” says Malik. “Many of them are in great demand in neighbouring districts as well.” Malik herself quit her job with Sapient Nitro in Gurgaon within six months of joining to pursue her dream of becoming an entrepreneur. IRIS Learning, which she set up in 2015, is one of the 4,526 skilling centres in the country which partner with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) – under the National Skills Qualification Framework – to combat India’s gigantic skills shortage. Apart from agriculture-related skills, IRIS also provides training for prospective electricians, fitters, mobile phone repairers and more. “I don’t regret my decision to give up my well-paying job at all,” she says.

This story is from the April 09, 2017 edition of Business Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the April 09, 2017 edition of Business Today.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BUSINESS TODAYView All
"Moving to cloud helped us grow❞
Business Today India

"Moving to cloud helped us grow❞

What was the problem you were grappling with?

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
She's Got Time
Business Today India

She's Got Time

MORE WOMEN ARE BECOMING WATCH CONNOISSEURS, SEEKING OUT BOTH JEWELLED AND TECHNICAL WATCHES FOR THEIR STYLE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
RISING STAR
Business Today India

RISING STAR

PARUL GULATI IS a name that's been steadily gaining prominence in the Indian entertainment industry after she appeared on season 2 of Shark Tank in 2023. She has become a multifaceted personality who effortlessly transitions between acting and entrepreneurship.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
Building on a Legacy
Business Today India

Building on a Legacy

WHEN ZAHABIYA KHORAKIWALA stepped into her role as Managing Director of Wockhardt Hospitals over a decade ago, she confronted formidable challenges that have since turned into achievements.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
LEADER IN INNOVATION
Business Today India

LEADER IN INNOVATION

AS FEDEX'S PRESIDENT (Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa), Kami Viswanathan has a lot on her plate.

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
WAITING IN THE WINGS
Business Today India

WAITING IN THE WINGS

Here are those who missed out as they have not yet completed a year in office; they'll be strong contenders in 2025

time-read
1 min  |
November 24, 2024
A DECENT PROPOSAL
Business Today India

A DECENT PROPOSAL

IN TODAY'S WORLD OF TRYING TO CREATE AN EQUITABLE SPACE, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR HOUSEHOLDS. WOMEN ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THEIR OWN SAVINGS POOL AND INVESTMENT ROUTINE. GIVEN THIS, HOW SHOULD FUTURE BRIDES APPROACH FINANCIAL PLANNING?

time-read
5 mins  |
November 24, 2024
Women and the STEM Bias
Business Today India

Women and the STEM Bias

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN STEM WILL NOT ONLY BENEFIT INDIVIDUALS, BUT ALSO STRENGTHEN THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY, DRIVING INNOVATION AND PROGRESS.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 24, 2024
ROCKET WOMEN
Business Today India

ROCKET WOMEN

WOMEN IN INDIA ARE NOT ONLY VENTURING INTO SPACE BUT ARE ALSO STARTING TO SPEARHEAD THE COUNTRY'S EFFORTS IN THE GLOBAL SPACE RACE.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024
ONE STEP FORWARD
Business Today India

ONE STEP FORWARD

THE NUMBER OF WOMEN INDEPENDENT DIRECTORS IS GROWING STEADILY, BUT IT'S A LONG WAY FROM GENDER PARITY. MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BREAK THE GLASS CEILING IN BOARDROOMS.

time-read
6 mins  |
November 24, 2024