Currently, it is estimated that the electrical equipment industry provides direct employment to 5 lakh people and indirect employment to more than 10 lakh people. This requirement is estimated to increase to 15 lakh direct employment and 20 lakh indirect employment by 2012.
Even today, the electrical equipment industry is facing a major problem in getting skilled and employable manpower which is technically competent, equipped with skills and ready to be deployed. The industry is facing a looming skill gap, which is widening every year. Due to lack of skilled manpower, electrical equipment industry is suffering as it is affecting critical functions like R&D, consultancy, design and detailed engineering work.
The technical education system in the country does not promote innovative thinking. Training being provided in the ITIs is out dated and the trained students are not able to meet the aspirations of the industry. Even the qualified supervisors and engineers are not available. Those who are qualified are not well trained to meet the technical needs of the industry.
Because of the above factors the labour productivity is far less than the labour productivity in China and Korea. This is one of the important reasons for making the industry non-competitive and is also effecting the timely completion of the projects. Therefore, there is very urgent need for training the work force for all the segments of the industry and making changes in the curriculum of the polytechnics and engineering colleges.
One of the Working Groups constituted in the proposed Mission Plan for Electrical Equipment Industry will specifically look into this area and recommend the interventions required.
IEEMA has been also regularly interacting with the Department of Heavy Industry and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) to set up Sector Skill Councils in the capital goods and engineering sectors.
-PIB
