New Delhi, November 2023.

In a significant move towards boosting the endeavours of the Skill India Mission and towards enhancing the employability of Superannuating Armed Service Personnel, the Regional Directorate of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (RDSDE), Telangana, under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), has partnered with the Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), Department of Ex-servicemen Welfare (Ministry of Defence). The partnership aims to implement a comprehensive Resettlement Training Program focusing on sectors like aerospace and aviation (Drone technology), capital goods, and automotive.

Under the partnership, the program will facilitate the reintegration of retiring service personnel into civilian life, specifically within high-demand sectors. The program is meticulously designed to cater to the diverse skill sets of armed service personnel including disabled soldiers, widows, and dependents, ensuring 100% employment opportunities for their successful resettlement. The programs shall be conducted in all the 33 NSTIs across India to ensure the gainful Re-settlement of 70,000 Armed forces personnel after their Superannuation from the services.

Lauding the initiative, Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, said, "We take immense pride in leading initiatives dedicated to empowering our Armed Service Personnel as they transition into civilian life. This collaboration signifies a momentous step in that journey. Our focus on key sectors in high demand underscores our commitment to delivering personalized Resettlement Training Programs for retiring service personnel. It epitomises our dedication to not just offering jobs but ensuring fulfilling careers for those who have courageously served our nation. By prioritising skill development, we aim to facilitate a smooth and seamless transition for our armed service members into the dynamic civilian workforce, supporting their personal growth while actively contributing to the prosperity of our nation. The decades of on-field experience of these personnel would be of commendable use for the industry. With this initiative, we can utilize the best minds for enhancing the quality of work across the high-demand sectors."

The Resettlement Training Program offers a comprehensive curriculum for Armed Service Personnel, encompassing three specialized courses conducted at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) Vidyanagar and NSTI Ramanthapur. The Production Technology course, spanning three months at NSTI Vidyanagar, comprises four weeks of Welding Technology, one week of Metrology and engineering Inspection, three weeks of Auto CAD 2D & 3D, and four weeks dedicated to CNC Programming, Operation, and maintenance.

Armed Service Personnel can also enroll in the Basics Of Automobile course, a three-month program at NSTI Vidyanagar. Furthermore, NSTI Ramanthapur is conducting a three-month Drone Technician course, equipping participants with specialized skills in drone technology.

The Directorate General Resettlement (DGR), an integral Inter-Service organization operating directly under the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare within the Ministry of Defence, plays a crucial role in supporting Ex-Servicemen. Its mission extends to training and equipping veterans with additional skills, placing a strong emphasis on aligning with the evolving needs of corporate and industrial sectors. The primary objective is to facilitate a seamless transition for Ex-Servicemen into a second career, ensuring their successful resettlement into civilian life.

To further extend support towards DGR’s mission, the National Institute for Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development (NIESBUD) has conducted 13 programmes for 455 participants in FY22-23 and 13 programmes for 413 participants in FY23-24. Besides, NIESBUD is undertaking 10 programmes for 297 participants, and these are being conducted in the areas of entrepreneurship, retail entrepreneurship, leading retail teams, Web Development, etc. These programs are approved by DGR to be conducted across Noida (UP), Dehradun (Uttrakhand), Kanpur (UP), Prayagraj (UP), Bhubaneswar (Odisha), Howrah (West Bengal), Bengaluru (Karnataka), Jaipur (Rajasthan), Patna (Bihar), Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), and Chennai (Tamil Nadu).

These programmes aim to impart entrepreneurial knowledge among the participants with support through Mentoring and Handholding services to set up and run the enterprises by the retired army personnel to become successful entrepreneurs.

Last year, the Union Cabinet unveiled the Agnipath recruitment scheme, a transformative move to modernise the country’s armed forces and prepare a ready pool of skilled youth who can contribute to India’s defence preparedness and to the growth of the GDP. MSDE has been associated with the Agnipath scheme and is working closely with the Armed forces in the implementation of the programme as the country readies a future-ready army of young and motivated soldiers. The ministry is working collaboratively with various wings of the armed forces in the recruitment of candidates from ITIs and other technical institutions, with a focus on imparting skills to ITI students to make them better suited to these job roles.