PANAJI
The Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s ambitious apprenticeship training scheme for fostering skilled workforce and promoting professional growth has received poor response from the youths with only 25 per cent out of total 9,000 apprenticeship job opportunities, available in various government departments, being filled so far.
Sawant on Thursday held a meeting with the Heads of Departments (HoDs) and the Nodal Officer from various sectors. The meeting discussed the status of apprenticeship training schemes.
As per the data provided during the meeting, there are 9000 apprenticeship job opportunities in various government departments however, till date, only 2300 vacancies have been filled. The Home Department currently has 1850 vacancies, while the Public Works Department (PWD) has 966 vacancies.
The government announced that the apprenticeship job holders would enjoy leave entitlements, including 12 days casual leave and 15 days medical leave, providing a supportive and balanced work environment. Under the scheme, the youths are paid stipends varying from Rs 8,000 to Rs 13,000 per month.
There are also another 6,000-odd opportunities in the private sector under the scheme, which was launched in June. The State government is contemplating to make Apprenticeship Certificate mandatory for getting government jobs.
The youths have to get themselves registered on the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) portal to enroll for the scheme benefit.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister emphasized on the importance of the one-year apprenticeship opportunity in nurturing a robust workforce and fostering a vibrant work culture.
“During the course of discussions, the Chief Minister reviewed the existing apprenticeship program, with HODs to understand the challenges they face in the recruitment process. This interactive session provided valuable insights into refining the scheme for maximum effectiveness,” reads the statement issued by the government.
