Union minister flags off mobile vans to re-skill auto mechanics
LUCKNOW: Union minister for skill development and entrepreneurship Mahendra Nath Pandey on Saturday flagged off 18 mobile skill vans in the capital city with an objective to re-skill and certify 40,000 tyre-mechanics from Uttar Pradesh by March 2020.
The mega drive was launched under the ministry’s Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme with an objective to make India the Skill Capital of the World through inclusive economic growth.
Pandey said, “Re-skilling and up-skilling are initiatives to ensure that individuals have access to opportunities and that they remain competitive in the market. RPL recognises and certifies a person’s previous learning and work experience as per established standards.”
“It is an effort to formalise the unorganised sector of the industry to create a sustainable work ecosystem. We are committed to enhancing the employability of our youths by making them acquire strong and relevant job skills, needed to find a job and maintain employment,” the minister said.
“Tyre mechanics dot the length and breadth of Indian highways and play an important role in making road transport safer. Fitting of tyre, especially commercial tyre, is a skill-based job requiring formal training.
The mobile vans will move across state highways, villages and towns, creating awareness about the skill required in servicing and maintenance of tyre and their co-relation with road safety,” Pandey said.
The mega drive was flagged off in presence of Kapil Dev Aggarwal, minister of state (MoS), Uttar Pradesh Skill Development; Ashok Katariya, MoS for transport and parliamentary affairs, Uttar Pradesh and other senior officials from the ministry, Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) and Rubber Skill Development Council (RSDC), which will be covering various districts of the State.
Launched under ‘Saamarth’,
› We are committed to enhancing the employability of our youths by making them acquire strong and relevant job skills and find a job. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY, Union minister
the re-skilling project of the RSDC, the mobile vans have been pressed into service to take up-skilling to auto mechanics, especially for tyre-fitters who do not have access to a formal training centre.
Under the programme, fitters are taught to use best practices and also get education in health and safety methods to be followed during wheel alignment and changing of tyre.
Till date close to 35000 tyre fitters have already been assessed, re-skilled and up-skilled and certified under the RPL component of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) of Skill India Program covering 119 districts across 19 states.
Following the flag-off, certificates and kits were distributed to candidates undergoing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) training.
The Automotive Tyre Manufacturers Association (ATMA) has collaborated with RSDC for up-skilling tyre fitters.