Kerala, March, 2024.

To accelerate the pace of skill development and ensure that India's talent is equipped with relevant and cutting-edge skills, Kerala today has embarked on a transformative journey with the launch of the Future Ready, Job Ready Skills under the next phase of Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), for the youth of Kerala. Aligned with the visionary goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, set forth by the Hon'ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, this initiative marks a significant step towards innovation and future preparedness.

At the core of this initiative lies PMKVY 4.0, a groundbreaking program set to impart futuristic skills to approximately 4 lakh young individuals over the next three years. With a strategic emphasis on domains like Additive Manufacturing, 3D printing AI - Data Quality Analysis, Drone Manufacturing, and Electric Vehicle Service Technician training, this initiative promises to equip our youth with the cutting-edge skills demanded by emerging industries. The scheme will have easy access to skill training courses through College and Universities, Schools, ITIs, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendras, Jan Shikshan Sansthans and other existing institutes.

The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) alone has trained 1.50 crore youth since 2015, with over 61 lakhs of them being women. We have also added more than 350 new age/future skills to the ecosystem, ensuring that our youth are equipped with the latest tools and techniques and are made future ready and job ready with increased employability. Furthermore, we have established over 5000 new ITIs over the last 9.5 years, totaling to 15000 ITIs overall, and we have engaged over 28 lakh apprentices under the National Apprenticeship Program, which also saw the first-time ever Direct Benefit Transfer in Apprenticeship.

Speaking during the inauguration, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hon'ble Minister of State, Electronics & IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Jal Shakti, Government of India, said, “Knowledge is power, but what is even more powerful is knowledge with skills. The Narendra Modi Government is on a mission that, within the next 5 years, young Malayalis in Thiruvananthapuram will no longer be left out without skills. Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Modi Ji, Young Indians in Kerala will be empowered with Future Ready skills. Skills, particularly future skills, have the potential to expand opportunities for young Indians. The FutureSkills program was devised to provide opportunities to all. As a Malayali, it is disheartening to witness the lack of opportunities in Kerala — the absence of factories, tech hubs, and investments. However, we will ensure that there are opportunities for all, to ensure that there are more skills and newer ways to earn for all.”

German Language Training Program for Healthcare Professionals: Implemented in collaboration with NSDC International under the Skill India International initiative, this program is tailored especially for healthcare workers, particularly young women from Kerala. It gives them the linguistic proficiency required to effectively communicate with German-speaking patients and colleagues, enhancing their global employability.The program was launched at Chandigarh and was a two-month comprehensive residential training program where the students cleared their B1 level of German language proficiency. The training was imparted by German Native professional trainers. The Hon’ble Minister of State, Electronics & IT, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Jal Shakti, Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar distributed the 25 girls and 1 boy from Kerala with job offer letters with approx. ₹2 Lakhper month + free B2 training in Germany, signifying recognition of their efforts and dedication to their professional development.Recognizing the demand for healthcare professionals in Germany, this project aims to facilitate the linguistic and cultural integration of Indian nurses into the German healthcare system through a specialized German Language Training Program.

The event also saw the launch of Language Proficiency Program at the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI-Women), Thiruvananthapuram: In partnership with Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), this program offers comprehensive courses in German and Japanese languages, empowering our youth to enhance their linguistic prowess and compete for lucrative international career opportunities.The collaboration between NSTI W, Trivandrum, and IGNOU aims to establish a facilitation center for proficiency in foreign languages. This pioneering partnership will grant eligible students access to higher education degrees and certificate programs offered by IGNOU, bridging the gap between vocational training and higher education and empowering individuals with invaluable language skills essential for global competitiveness.

The event was also graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India, Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, Director General, Directorate General of Training, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dr. (Ms.) K. Vasuki, Secretary, Labor & Skills Department, Govt of Kerala, Prof. Prasad Krishna, Director, NIT, Dr. Pratap Kumar S, Director, NIELIT, Calicut, Shri Ajay K Raina, Director & COO, NSDC International, Shri Hitesh Garg, Vice President & India Country Manager, NXP Semiconductors, Shri Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India & South Asia.

The event also saw academic and research collaboration between Seven prestigious organisations and NIELIT Calicut.

This initiative underscores Kerala's commitment to nurturing a skilled workforce capable of thriving in the ever-evolving global economy.