Introduction

While India has a large young population, only 5% of the Indian labour force in the age group of 20-24 years has obtained vocational skills through formal means. According to Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, about 63% of the school students drop out at different stages before reaching high school yet there are very few training programs accessible to early drop outs.

Approximately 2.5 million vocational training seats are available in the country whereas about 12.8 million people enter the labour market every year. This significant gap ensures that large number of youth do not have access to skill development for improving their employability. Gauging this need of the local community, especially the youth, who find themselves inept at supporting their family due to absence of any professional skill, Government of Maharashtra operates various skill development & training programs.

In line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision, Government of Maharashtra has also prioritized the Skill Development activities in the State and has set a vision to skill 4.5 crore youth by 2022. To accomplish this mission, Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) was established on 15th February, 2011 under the Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department of the State for implementing all skill development initiatives. The Society is the single nodal agency for planning, coordination, execution & monitoring of all Skill Development initiatives of Government of Maharashtra. Various Skill Development schemes of various departments of Government of Maharashtra are implemented through the active coordination under the single umbrella of this society. The schemes of Government of India are also being implemented by MSSDS.

State Governance Organization Structure

The organization of skill development initiatives is guided by the following structure of committees:

• • State Apex Committee
  • Chairman: Hon'ble Chief Minister
• • State Executive Committee
  • Chairman: Hon'ble Chief Secretary
    Deputy Chairman: Hon'ble Principal Secretary, SDED
• • MSSDS
  • Chairman: Mission Director, Commissioner SDE&E
    Nodal agency for implementing skill development activities
• • Divisional Skill Development Committees
  • Chairman: Divisional Commissioner
    For effective implementation of the mission
• • District Skill Development Committees
  • Chairman: District Collectors
    For effective implementation of the mission

Functions of MSSDS

1. To design, develop and implement need based skill development schemes and placement initiative in the state; implement skill development schemes of Government of India and Government of Maharashtra as per the prescribed guidelines and orders
2. To prepare State Skill Gap Assessment Report, sectoral and territorial skill development plans, projects and schemes in consultation with stakeholders including Government departments, industry and institutions & update as per changing industrial and commercial scenario
3. To support LMIS initiative of Directorate of Employment and Self-Employment and regularly monitor skill demand supply status
4. To plan and implement multi-pronged awareness campaign for the schemes of skill development, employment and self-employment; partner and enter into MoU with any agency/institution for promoting the cause of skill development, employment and self-employment
5. To empanel and grade skill development agencies, determine fee structure and terms and conditions for providing requisite training across the sectors under various Government programmes
6. To help the Government departments & District Skill Development Executive Committees in preparation & execution of skill development plans
7. To regularly monitor & circulate the outcome of skill development schemes of the state
8. To engage agencies for pre-skilling assessment, counseling, training, placement and handholding programmes for unemployed youth under its own initiative or initiative of any other agency