Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela on March 20 in over 200 districts

NEW DELHI: The Ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) will organise a Pradhan Mantri National Apprenticeship Mela on March 20, in more than 200 districts of the country, a statement from the ministry said. The initiative is being conducted as part of the prime minister Narendra Modi’s push to boost career opportunities for youths under the Skill India Mission.

The ministry said that various local businesses and organisations have been invited to ensure their presence in the apprenticeship mela to provide relevant apprenticeship training opportunities to participating youths. Through the platform, the participating organisations will directly be able to connect with the aspiring apprentices and choose them as per their qualifications from the spot.

MSDE secretary Atul Kumar Tiwari said: “Apprenticeship is the best pathway for education- to-work transition. Through platforms such as PMNAM, the government is placing its efforts to raise the aspirational value of apprenticeship in India.” The ministry’s statement said that the fair will strengthen the livelihoods of the youths and will pave the way for new job opportunities for them.

Apprenticeship portal, eligibility, documents

The application process is through the national apprenticeship portal, apprenticeshipindia.gov.in.

Candidates can find the closest location where a fair is being organised on the portal. Candidates who have passed their intermediate exams (Class 12) and have skill training certificates, Industrial Training Institute (ITI) certificates or diplomas are eligible to participate in the fair, as notified by the ministry.

The ministry has issued a list of documents to be carried by the applicants to the fair, which includes three hard copies of resume, three copies each of marksheets and certificates, a valid government issued photo ID proof and three passport size photographs.

Through this fair, the candidates will also receive a National Council for Vocational Education and Training-recognised certification, which will improve their employability rate, said the MSDE statement.

Apprenticeship melas are held on the second day of every month throughout the country, under which, individuals selected for training and apprenticeship receive a monthly stipend in accordance with the government criteria for gaining new skills.

MSDE said that the government aims to train 1 million youths per year through apprenticeship training and fulfil the objective of Skill India Mission.