In a recent meeting with the LSSC leadership team, Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, commended the initiatives in skilling workforce to meet the requirements of the fast growing leather industry. On 31st January 2018, Shri Habib Hussain, Chairman, LSSC and Shri Ramesh Kumar IAS, CEO, LSSC and Shri Rajesh Rathnam, Head – Client Relations, LSSC,  met Hon’ble Minister for Skill Development Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan along with Mr. K P Krishnan IAS, Secretary and Mr Rajesh Agrawal IAS Joint Secretary, MSDE.

Mr Ramesh Kumar, IAS, briefed the minister about various sub-sectors in the leather industry and explained in detail about the regional breakup of industry and product range. The chairman, Mr Habib Hussain, gave an overview of the constitution of the board members and how it covers the entire spectrum of leather ecosystem in India.

While Mr Dharmendra Pradhan was happy to know about the scope for jobs in the sub-sectors like Pre-tannery, Tannery, Finished leather, Footwear , Goods & Garments, Saddlery & Accessories and India’s dominance in global markets in Saddlery, he was also keen that the LSSC should implement National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) for training in a majority of job roles.  He also emphasized on implementing Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for existing workers as a means of bringing them into the formal workforce.

Following this, the discussion centered on adoption of Qualification Packs (QPs) to increase coordination and uniformity of talent across segments. The minister requested Mr. Ramesh Kumar to prepare a report on the basis of meeting with organizations like FDDI, CFTI and CLRI on aligning QPs with job roles.

The progress on Special Projects and financial metrics was keenly discussed and Mr Rajesh Agarwal, IAS, Joint Secretary, added to the deliberations with the progress on special package given by DIPP to the leather sector and the sub-scheme on skill development.

Mr. Ramesh Kumar also placed the need for cluster-based approach to skill development for reducing the demand-supply gap and thus meeting the target of training 1.5 lakhs from 2018.

Throughout the meeting, the minister was enthusiastic to know more about the initiatives and suggested that there is an urgent need to train people at Taluk level in order to utilize the resources at Block and Taluk levels. Mr. K P Krishnan, Secretary suggested the initiation of a small pilot project in this are and the minister agreed and liked the idea.

The meeting concluded on a positive note with the minister reminding the LSSC team to complete the action items discussed and keep the ministry updated about the same.