SRINAGAR: Skill Development Department (SDD) and YuWaah, a UNICEF-initiated multi-stakeholder global platform, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today to work together closely to enable youth in J&K, connect them to aspirational work and engage them as active changemakers.
The MoU was signed by Principal Secretary SDD, Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon and Deputy Representative Operations, UNICEF India (OIC Representative, Lana Kataw).
Special Secretary, Skill Development Department, Education Specialist, UNICEF Outpost J&K, Danish Aziz, representative of Private Schools Association, Jammu/Srinagar, and representatives of allied departments were present on the occasion. Mission Director Skill Development Department, Director, School Education, Jammu, Director School Education Kashmir, Chief Operating Officer, YuWaah and other officers attended the MoU through virtual mode.
While signing MoU, Dr Samoon said that this is an opportunity to help the youth live a meaningful and productive life which contributes to the society and the nation. He directed the line departments to work in a coordinated manner to gain the maximum benefits out of this opportunity.
Appreciating the idea of partnership between the SDD and UNICEF for empowering our youths to gain relevant skills and guidance, Dr Samoon said that the collaboration is a starting point to facilitate direct dialogue and feedback mechanism between youth and other stakeholders including policymakers.
Dr Samoon also gave a brief of the Department and the courses being offered at ITIs and Polytechnics and said that they are trying to reduce the disconnect between the courses and the demand of the market.
The J&K Skill Development Department strives to coordinate the efforts and Policies regarding Skill Development empowering all individuals especially the youth of J&K through improved skills, knowledge, nationally and internationally recognized qualifications to gain access to decent employment and thus strengthening of economy of the state as well as fighting the problem of unemployment.
The Statement of Intent (SOI) intends to provide a platform for cooperation between Government of Jammu and Kashmir through Skill Development Department and UNICEF to leverage the existing mainstreamed initiatives of both parties to co-create and implement solutions at scale to tackle the employment & skilling challenges for adolescents and youth.
The areas of collaboration include mapping and analysis of skills gaps in adolescents/young people in Jammu & Kashmir with focus on 21st century skills and Technical and vocational education and training, including placement and retention in jobs.
The MoU also envisages creating linkages with tested life skills Pilots and Solutions based on the findings of the Skills Gap study to connect young people and adolescents with relevant skills. It also enables job-connects for select groups of young people through a menu of options to help match their aspirations and skills
In line with the vision of the Skill Development Department, both parties will amplify the need for and access to 21st century skills including life skills, vocational skills, digital literacy, financial literacy and explore possibilities of in-house skill building platforms within ChildCare Institutions run by different agencies for children in the age group of 16-18.
UNICEF and Skill Development Department will connect at the end of every year to discuss the results of the collaboration and agree on priorities for the next year. They also agreed on a detailed roadmap and timeline for a period of one year soon after the signing of SOI.
Earlier, Chief Operating Officer YuWaah Abhishek Gupta and Lana Kataw also shared their thoughts and gave a background and context overview of the YouWaah SOI with Skill Development. They expressed hope that in the next three years, both UNICEF and SDD will make great achievement in the areas of collaboration and empowerment of youth to face the future confidently
Skill Development Department will co-brand and promote the Skills Gap exercise, including survey and results in its networks to ensure wide outreach and will provide the necessary support and guidance to the Skills Gap for the duration of the study.
In another separate meeting, Dr Samoon also reviewed the functioning of Skill Development Department. The points that came up for discussion include Implementation of work program under PMKVY/SANKALP, Skill Hub Initiative (CSS)-PMKVY (CSS)-Accreditation of COVID Warriors; boost income (Min Rs. 1 lac per year) for each youth through, RPL Training of 60,000 NRLM women SHGS, 6,000 Tribal Youth Groups and finalization of Panchayat Skill Plans as per template made by IIM Jammu for 4200+ Panchayat and framing of action plans for implementation during 2022-23.
Dr Samoon passed on strict directions to the concerned officers and directed them to work in a coordinated manner so that fixed timelines are strictly adhered to.
