Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) and Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) have joined hands to boost skill initiatives in the aviation sector. Along with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and National Skill Development Fund (NSDF), the two ministries signed a tripartite MoU for scaling up skill development initiatives in the aviation sector. AAI has committed to contribute Rs 5.25 crore of its CSR funds to NSDF, along with land and premises for setting up skill development centres in the country. P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Parliamentary Affairs, were present at the ceremony. The MoU was signed by Rajesh Agarwal, CEO, NSDF; Rajiv Goel, director, India Aviation Academy and Airport Authority of India; and Jayant Krishna, CEO, NSDC.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Gajapathi Raju said, “As we gear up for a new civil aviation policy for new avenues that aviation will open up for economic growth of the country, for more new airports, and existing ones becoming active; there has to be a large part of our strategy towards sourcing skilled workforce to make all our plans successful. Our plans can be the most well thought out plans, but we need trained and certified people to execute those plans. Any vibrant programme needs a skilled workforce. Through our partnership, we are investing back into our sector’s and the country’s brighter future.”
Rudy informed, “The aviation sector has seen good traction in the skill ecosystem. It is estimated that by 2035, Indian civil aviation sector would employ eight to 10 lakh personnel directly and another three lakh indirectly. To cater to this requirement, we introduced a new Sector Skill Council, exclusively for preparing a job-ready workforce for the aerospace and aviation sector last year. We welcome the contribution being made by AAI through its CSR funds.”
Under the MoU, AAI also committed to undertake recognition of prior learning (RPL) programmes for their current employees, to train and certify in their existing skill sets, in association with the Aerospace & Aviation Sector Skill Council and any other council as may seem fit. Through this MoU, AAI will also align its ongoing skill development programmes with the Skill India Mission, so that all courses are aligned to one national skill qualification framework, which is recognised by the industry today.
