“HISTORY IS CREATED”
In the first program of its kind in India , over 500 Domestic workers (their total number in the country could be 20 million) who had been trained under the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) program of NSDC/ MSD&E received certificates from the Union Minister of State (Independent charge) Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in New Delhi. The training of these workers was conducted by the certified trainers of PRAYAS NGO. What is special about these domestic workers, about whom most of us even care to think, is that these selected workers were from the prestigious New Moti Bagh area, India’s elite bureaucratic hub who enthusiastically participated in the upgradation programme and they were allowed permission and time by their employers to take up the skilling program. So excited was Mr.Rajiv Pratap Rudy at the Certification Ceremony organized by Domestic Workers Sector Skill Council (DWSSC) that he exclaimed “History is Created Today”. Explaining the significance of this day he said that it was the first time ever in the Indian history, that domestic workers have been trained, certified and facilitated by any Ministry of Indian Government. He admitted that this training might not be sufficient for the workers but it was enough to raise their own self-esteem and said that this was the first step towards the path of getting recognized in society. He also congratulated the workers for completing their training and said that this would open the way for achieving newer milestones and they could now get success not only in India but also abroad after getting trained by DWSSC.
While welcoming the Hon’ble Minister, Mr. R P Rudy, the Chairman of DWSSC Mr. Amod K Kanth who is also General Secretary of Prayas , mentioned that the domestic workers who are estimated to be nearly 20 million in India, are an inevitable part of Indian families and society. After the formation of DWSSC within the National Level Skilling Program of the NSDC/ MSD&E new job roles like, Housekeeping, Cooking, Child Care, Elderly Care, Pre & Post Natal Care have been developed for National Level Occupational Standards, Assessments and Certifications as per the NSQF. He informed that 546 candidates had already been trained under this program in New Moti Bagh and thanked the employers of these workers who encouraged their workers to be a part of the training program. Mr. Kanth thanked the other dignitaries present namely Mr. Pawan Agarwal, CEO Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), who took the initiative and supported DWSSC in conducting this program in New Moti Bagh, Mr. Rajiv Sharma, Managing Director of Empower Pragati and DWSSC CEO Maj Gen Manik Sabbharwal (Retd.) All the proud workers who attended the ceremony were very enthusiastic about their training and shared their experience with the dignitaries present, posttraining as to how it had helped them not only in their professional but also enriched their personal lives.