The Electronics Sector Skills Council of India CEO N.K. Mohapatra anticipates the electronics manufacturing cluster projects to take shape in a year, thus fuelling a significant demand for trained manpower.
Most of them remain on government files or the accessible road may be an issue for “something done somewhere,” but all of that will change.
Within a year the investments would be on ground in real facilities, he said. That is when “you need real people to operate them as well. There is a huge requirement coming our way in terms of electronic manufacturing.”
The whole electronic space is looking very good now, be it LED, security surveillance, automation or semi-conductor design, Mr. Mohapatra told The Hindu . He was in Hyderabad recently for the opening of the centre of excellence for skill development in solar electronics that ESSCI has established in partnership with the Engineering Staff College of India.
Describing ESSCI as a finishing school, he said the emphasis is on readying people for the jobs. The Council works in association with partner agencies and training the trainers in many areas, including in the field of solar energy, is its focus.
A not-for-profit organisation promoted by six associations – CEAMA, ELCINA, IESA, IPCA, MAIT and ELCOMA – with the financial support of National Skill Development Corporation, the Council engages with stakeholders to validate the course materials. Next phase, beyond the approvals, is to “accept the people we produce. We are getting there,” he said. Having industry bodies as promoters, however, does not mean that the Council gets all the information it requires on a platter. Some companies say they are MNCs and hence cannot share technical details sought by the Council for formulating course materials, Mr. Mohapatra, while replying to a query, said. Many in the industry are also unable to visualise the benefit ESSCI could deliver, possibly on account of the “low faith on the vocational training space that was mismanaged for last several years. But, we are trying to create to high value vocational course…”
On the centre of excellence, he said about 500 faculty members would be trained in a year. This would ensure supply to the organisations training people for the solar energy sector. In five years, the demand for such courses would be similar to what is now for computer education.
Hyderabad, he said, is only the second location in the country where the Council has set up this facility. It will impart week-long programmes for batches of 30 people.
