New Delhi, March 28, 2023.

As a prime example of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’,India takes pride in the fact that the New Parliament, the existing temple of democracy which soon completes its 100 years;is now being built by our own people, our very own “Karigars” (workers). And recognising the efforts of these workers, the Furniture and Fitting Skill Council (FFSC) working under the aegis of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in collaboration with the NDMC jurisdiction and NARSI Group has trained and certified 910 carpenters under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme. The project is aimed to augment the skill training of carpenters and to enable them in becoming an asset in creating a world class infrastructure for the New Parliament Building, representing India’s progress and democratic values.

The event was organised at the parliament and attended by senior government officials and industry stakeholders including Dr.K.K Dwivedi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE); Shri Deepak Aggarwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA); Shri Ashwini Mittal, NPB, Central Public Works Department (CPWD); Shri Sushil Aggarwal, Director, National Council for Vocational Education and Training (NCVET), and Vivek Sharma, Manager – Strategy, National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a component of Skill India’s flagship scheme Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) and is an assessment process used to evaluate a person's existing skill sets, knowledge and experience gained either by formal, non-formal or informal learning.

Within the programme, pre-screening guidance, counselling, and support will be provided to ensure the overall growth of the candidates. The Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) has various programmes which they give to different government agencies to fulfil the skill development initiatives. The ministry along with NARSI group has earlier trained more than 6,000 carpenters under the various RPL schemes. The process helps in aligning the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the standardized National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) to enhance employability opportunities and reduce the skill gap.

Dr.Krishna Kumar Dwivedi, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE)said,the parliament building is the epitome of India’s rich democratic heritage, and it is the symbol of India’s valour and pride. Today’s ceremony marks a significant milestone in empowering our carpenters by providing them with the best hands-on training, formal certification which will further enable the recognition of skill sets and assist in establishing a top-of-the-line infrastructure in the New Parliament Building. Through this training, the prospects for the candidates will increase in domestic and in international markets as well. With this training, our carpenters will have the capacity to create world-class infrastructure and undertake renowned projects that meet the demands of the industry. This initiative underscores the Government’s initiative to build a skilled workforce that can drive our nation’s growth and development.

Shri Narsi D Kularia, Chairman, Furniture & Fitting’s Skill Council and Managing Director, Narsi Group said, it is a moment of great pride for our community of carpenters to be associated with this visionary project. In our capacity, we are taking all the necessary measures to fully educate our workers and provide them with complete safety to ensure that the New Parliament Building has the state-of-the-art infrastructure. Being a carpenter myself, I comprehend the value of skilling and certification in building capabilities. To boost the formal skill training of the candidates, we have undertaken several programmes such as Meri Skill Meri Pehchan, National Apprenticeship Promotional Scheme (NAPS) and created a Centre of Excellence to make them an active participant in the economic growth. With this, we look forward for certifying & recognizing Skills of 25,000 carpenters in the coming months, Pan India.

The project aims at certifying candidates to increase their relevance in the volatile job market and encourage them in contributing towards nation-building. Going forward, the workers will be upskilled in multiple trades across construction, electrical, plumbing, pottery and more. It will not only expose them to digital literacy and entrepreneurial opportunities, but also upgrade them in technical skills.