Department of Technical Education & Skill Development, Ladakh organised a Workshop on Apprenticeship Act 1961 in collaboration with NIELET, Leh for Hotel Industry, Establishments, and PSUs on April 10.

Commissioner/Secretary, Technical Education & Skill Development Ladakh, Padma Angmo in her keynote address informed the participants on the components of the Apprenticeship Act 1961 which mandates all ‘establishments’ like Govt Departments, Hotel Industry, PSUs, Hospitals, Banks, urban Local Bodies, etc having workforce (regular and Contract employees) of 30 employees or more to engage apprentices from 2.5 % - 15% of its workforce.

She stated the Act will prove highly beneficial for both the youth and establishments as the youth can gain the requisite on-the-job training while earning at the same time and establishments can get a young workforce. Speaking on the challenges and limitations faced by establishments in Ladakh in finding a suitable workforce, Comm/Secy said that with the Apprenticeship scheme, now employers have the opportunity to have a steady stream of skilled workforce at the entry-level. This shall also enable the establishments to recruit from among the apprentices who show aptitude and potential.
 
Assistant Director, RDSDE, Jammu, Ram Singh Locham gave a detailed presentation on the Apprenticeship Act 1961 and the components of the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Lochan also outlined the Apprenticeship landscape Training in India; key provisions in the Act, Rules, and guidelines; benefits for establishments.

Regional Director, RDSDE J&K and Ladakh and HP, S. Santhimanalan explained Basic Training Provider (BTP) registration and reservation of training seats for reserve categories and PWDs.

In the technical session, establishments were given hands-on training on the apprenticeship portal https://www.apprenticeshipindia.gov.in. and shown how to register and create opportunities for youth and offer them apprenticeship opportunities The workshop was attended by hotel industry, banks, establishments, Polytechnic College, Industrial Training Institutes, establishments in Kargil (online), and staff of NIELET. Later in the day, the participants were given a hands-on NAPS Portal and had an elaborate question-and-answer session. Ms. Zhara Begum OSD Apprenticeship, (Technical Education & Skill Development Dept) presented the Welcome Speech.

The apprenticeship Training Programme under the Apprenticeship Act 1961 is being implemented for the first time in Ladakh to provide field training to the apprentices (students) among the industry establishment by utilizing the facilities available therein to promote skill development in the youth of Ladakh. Under the scheme, Establishments pay stipends ranging between 5000 to 9000/- per month to apprentices and the Central Government pays 25 % of the stipend.