New Delhi: In an attempt to enhance the employability of youth, Minister for Labour and Employment Bhupender Yadav has launched DigiSaksham. It aims to enhance the employability of youth by imparting digital skills that are required in an increasingly technology driven era. This joint initiative with Microsoft India is an extension of the government’s ongoing programs to support the youth from rural and semi-urban areas.

Through DigiSaksham initiative, free of cost training in digital skills including basic skills as well as advanced computing, will be provided to more than 3 lakh youths in the first year. The Jobseekers can access the training through National Career Service (NCS) Portal (www.ncs.gov.in).  The initiative gives priority to the job-seekers of semi urban areas belonging to disadvantaged communities, including those who have lost their jobs due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Union Minister Yadav said that with fast paced technology up gradations, constant skilling, reskilling and upskilling is a must. Under the DigiSaksham initiative, there will be basically three types of training viz. Digital Skills – Self paced learning, VILT mode training (Virtual Instructor led) and ILT mode training (Instructor led).  The ILT training which is in person training would be conducted at the Model Career Centres (MCCs) and National Career Service Centres (NCSC) for SCs/STs across the country.

The DigiSaksham initiative will equip more than 300,000 youth in technical skills in the first year and Jobseekers can access Microsoft learning resources such as programming languages, data analytics, software development fundamentals and advanced digital productivity on the National Career Service (NCS) Portal. The initiative gives priority to the job-seekers of semi urban areas belonging to disadvantaged communities, particularly the candidates from the socially and economically backward communities, marginalized communities, people who have been displaced or lost jobs due to Covid-19.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is implementing the National Career Service (NCS) Project as a Mission Mode Project for transformation of the National Employment Service to provide a variety of employment related services like job matching, career counselling, vocational guidance, information on skill development courses, apprenticeship, internships etc. The services under NCS are available online which was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015.

With the increased focus of Government on career counselling service, the Ministry has created a network of more than 700 Career Counsellors who are regularly publishing their schedules on NCS Portal. Knowledge Repository of Career Counselling content has been created by digitizing the existing Counselling literature and making it amenable for periodic up-dating by stakeholders and made accessible to various users. Occupational information on more than 3600 occupations based on National Classification of Occupations 2015 is also available under career information.