Govt to set up skill hubs across India; 5,000 planned in first phase

"The whole objective of the skill hubs is to use the existing infrastructure of both the education system and the existing Skill India infrastructure and network to provide comprehensive skilling and vocational training programme to students, dropouts, and also to those who are seeking employment opportunities outside the education system in various skills," the minister added.  He, however, did not share the timeline for setting up the skill hubs.

1.32 cr candidates trained, oriented till Nov 21 under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana: Govt tells Parliament

Replying to a query by V Vijayasai Reddy of the YSRCP on whether women participation in workforce has reduced, he said, "It is not true that there has been any major disruption of women participation in the workforce leading up to Covid. During Covid, there has been significant disruptions in the overall workforce and it is very likely that women participation in the workforce was also impacted."

He, however, asserted that depending on the job role and segment of the economy, women participation has increased significantly in many areas. "For example, in IT and the technology space, women participation has exceeded 44-45 percent," Chandrasekhar added.

Also Read: Why women's participation holds the key to climate action

On the steps taken by the ministry to encourage incentives for skill development programmes for women specially in rural areas, he said, "The Jan Shikshan Sansthan network is primarily aimed at teaching skill development to women in rural areas and is doing a very good job."

In a statement laid on the on the table of the House, Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan said the ministry is delivering skill training through a comprehensive network of skill development centres under various schemes for the youth across the country, including those in the rural areas.

"One of the aims of these programmes is ensuring livelihood opportunities in the rural areas through skill development of youth and imparting entrepreneurship, especially since the National Policy on Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, 2015, itself prioritises the requirements of the rural youth among special priority groups and socio-economic growth of rural areas as an important area of work for skill development," he said.