7-Apr-2022: Challenges in USTTAD Scheme
Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme aims to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities. Hunar Haat has been implemented since 2016-17 as a component of USTTAD scheme to provide an effective platform and opportunity to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products.
The COVID pandemic has posed a great challenge and has affected the artisan community, by adversely impacting sales of arts/crafts products, their livelihood opportunities and sources of income. As soon as the COVID SOPs were relaxed, Ministry while observing the various COVID protocols had re-started the training being conducted under USTTAD Scheme and also organised Hunar Haats by strictly following the COVID protocols. The Hunar Haats organised after the COVID pandemic are at Delhi (4), Rampur (2), Lucknow (2), Mysuru, Bhopal, Goa, Dehradun, Surat, Puducherry, Hyderabad, Guwahati, Chandigarh. This has provided the artisans with much needed opportunity to resume their businesses and work, including providing employment to workers.
Further, Hunar Haat has continuously expanded both physically as well as digitally with a view to overcome the challenges of the post-COVID era. Hunar Haat is available on a virtual platform www.hunarhaat.org in the form of E-Haat and Government e Marketplace (GeM) platform wherein handicraft and indigenous products of artisans are displayed on the website and buyers can directly buy from artisans. Ministry has also tied up with the apex body of handicraft exporters in the country to promote exports of products/handicrafts of artisans and craft persons by strengthening the export orientation of artisans through capacity building & training with focus on digital content/e-learning, product & design development, e-commerce, marketing and export promotions.
“Nai Roshni”, a scheme for Leadership Development of Minority Women is being implemented across India with an aim to empower and instill confidence in women by providing knowledge, tools and techniques for interacting with Government systems, banks and other institutions at all levels. The Ministry has successfully implemented Nai Roshni Scheme despite various challenges posed by COVID -19.
21-Mar-2022: Craft Clusters Identified under USTTAD
Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development (USTTAD) scheme was launched on 14th May, 2015 to preserve the rich heritage of traditional arts/crafts of minorities. The scheme aims at capacity building and updating the traditional skills of master craftsmen/artisans, documentation of identified traditional arts/crafts of minorities, set standards for traditional skills, training of minority youths in various identified traditional arts/crafts through master craftsmen, and develop national and international market linkages.
Ministry has engaged institutions of national repute namely, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), National Institute of Design (NID) to work in various craft clusters for design intervention, product range development, documentation of identified crafts, set standards of identified crafts, conduct exhibitions and brand building etc. Approx. 49 crafts clusters have been identified so far by the knowledge partner under the USTTAD scheme covering various traditional arts & crafts.
The training component of the scheme was started in the year 2016-17. The number of beneficiaries under the scheme for the year 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 are 16,200, 3465 and 3465 respectively, out of which 540 candidates are from the state of Bihar. The training during the last two years could not be conducted due to Covid pandemic.
Further, Hunar Haat is being implemented since 2016-17 as a component of USTTAD scheme. Hunar Haat is an effective platform wherein opportunity is given to artisans/craftsmen and culinary experts from across the country to showcase and market their handicrafts and indigenous products. Hunar Haat is helping in promotion and preservation of languishing traditional arts, crafts and indigenous products which is playing an effective role in the pledge of Swadeshi se Swavalamban’’ and ‘Vocal for Local’ thereby contributing to the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. Hunar Haat has generated employment and employment opportunities for artisans, craft persons and associated persons and has further strengthened their market linkages. So far, more than 8 lakh artisans, craftsmen and people associated with them have benefitted through various Hunar Haats organized by the Ministry.
4-Apr-2022: TEJAS Scheme
Through pilot project Training in Emirates Job and Skills (TEJAS), the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) is collaborating with top employers working in following sectors:
|
Sl.No. |
Employers |
Sectors |
|
1. |
EFS |
Construction & Allied Sectors |
|
2. |
AIQU |
Information Technology |
|
3. |
Esa Saleh Al Gurg |
Construction, Manufacturing |
|
4. |
Future Milez |
Automotive |
|
5. |
Lulu |
Financial Services |
|
6. |
Dulsco |
Construction & Allied Sectors |
Under the ongoing pilot project TEJAS, candidates are placed after training and certification in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Out of target 10,000, the progress is as follows:
- Candidates placed (offer letter released) : 101
- Candidates undergoing training and certification : 35
Though the exact figure of workers who came back to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is not known, however, as per Government’s estimates, around 3,30,058 workers returned from the UAE under the Vande Bharat Mission. The Government launched the SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support) scheme which aims to create a database of returning citizens based on their skill sets and experience. The returning citizens were required to fill out an online SWADES Skills Card at http://www.nsdcindia.org/swades/. The TEJAS Scheme is also applicable to the returnee workers.
As of date, 25,912 people have returned to India during the Pandemic. The information of returnee migrants was collected via skills card and was used to facilitate placement opportunities by integrating returnees with Skill India’s ASEEM (Aatmanirbhar Skilled Employee Employer Mapping) portal.
The skills which are being targeted to develop among the workers under the project TEJAS are Full Stack Engineer, Desktop Engineer, NET Engineer, Quality Assurance (QA) Engineer, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) technicians, Plumbers, Multi-skilled technicians, Welders, Car Drivers, Bike Riders, Food & Beverage Service Operator, Cooks, Front Office Hospitality Staff, Retail Service Assistants, IT Professionals, Finance Professionals, and Healthcare Professionals.
12-Mar-2022: PM declares open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today declared open the 11th Khel Mahakumbh at Ahmedabad. The Governor of Gujarat, Acharya Devvrat and The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel were among those present on the occasion.
At the outset, the Prime Minister noted the sea of youth energy and enthusiasm in the stadium and said that this is not just sports Mahakumbh but also a Mahakumbh of the youth power of Gujarat. The Prime Minister’s speech was preceded by a grand ceremony.
The Prime Minister said that the Mahakumbh did not take place for two years due to the pandemic, but this grand event has filled the sportsperson with new confidence and energy. “the seed that I sowed 12 years ago has become a grand banyan tree today”, said the Prime Minister who started the games as then Chief Minister of Gujarat. Started in 2010 in Gujarat under the visionary leadership of the then Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi, with 16 sports and 13 lakh participants, Khel Mahakumbh today encompasses 36 general sports and 26 para sports. Over 45 lakh sportspersons have registered for 11th Khel Mahakumbh.
Shri Modi mentioned that earlier Indian sports scene was dominated by few sports and indigenous sports were ignored. Sports were also infected by nepotism and “lack of transparency in the selection of players was also a big factor. All the talent of the players was spent in battling the problems. Coming out of that vortex, the youth of India are touching the sky today. The glow of gold and silver is polishing the confidence of the country,”, he said. The Prime Minister pointed out that today, India is winning record number of medals in events like Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. He said he has full confidence in the youth of the country. “India won 7 medals for the first time in Tokyo Olympics. The same record was made by the sons and daughters of India in the Tokyo Paralympics as well. India won 19 medals in this global competition. But, this is only the beginning. India is neither going to stop nor is it going to get tired”, Shri Modi emphasized.
The Prime Minister said that students who have returned from Ukraine have testified for the growing influence of the tricolour. Similarly, on the sports podium also, the same pride and patriotism is visible. The Prime Minister underlined the leadership of youth in various fields. He said “from Startup India to Standup India today. From Make in India to self-reliant India and 'Vocal for Local', the youth of India themselves have taken the responsibility of every campaign of New India. Our youth has established India's potential.”
The Prime Minister advised the youngsters against taking short cuts in life. Path of short cut is always short lived. He said “There is only one mantra for success - 'Long term planning, and continuous commitment'. Neither a victory can ever be our last stop nor a defeat”.
As success in sports needs 360 degree approach, the Prime Minister said, India is working with a holistic approach for promoting sports in the country. Khelo India programme is one good example of such thinking. “We started recognizing the talents of the country and giving them all necessary support. Despite having talent, our youth used to lag behind due to lack of training. Today better and better training facilities are being given to the players,” he pointed out. In the last 7-8 years budget for sports have been increased by 70 per cent. Encouragement and incentive for players have been enhanced significantly for players as well as coaches. He talked about the progress achieved in establishing sports as a viable career. There are many streams in the fields such as coaching, management, trainers, dieticians, sports writing etc. which can be taken up by the youngster who are interested in the field. In Manipur and Meerut sports universities have been established and sports courses are coming up in many institutions. He also asked for paying attention to beach and water sports given such a big coastline. He also requested parents to encourage sports among their children.
Khel Mahakumbh has revolutionized the sports ecosystem in Gujarat. With no age bar, it witnesses participation of people from across the State who compete in various events over a period of one month. It is a unique confluence of traditional sports like kabaddi, kho-kho, tug of war, Yogasana, Mallakhamba and modern sports like artistic skating, tennis and fencing. It has played an important role in identifying raw talent in sports at the grassroot level. It has also given a thrust to para sports in Gujarat.