The employment in the Electronics industry is estimated to grow phenomenally. Hence to facilitate skill development in ESDM sector focusing on students/unemployed youth at 9-10th standard onwards, ITI, Diploma, Non-engineering graduates, etc. to increase their employability to work in ‘Manufacturing’ and ‘Service support’ functions, a ‘Scheme for Financial Assistance to select States/UTs for Skill Development in Electronics System Design and Manufacturing (ESDM) sector’ was approved by DeitY in November, 2013. A total of 90,000 persons are to be supported under the scheme in the selected States in 5 levels of vocational skill development courses recognized by NIELIT/Electronic Sector Skill Council/Telecom Sector Skill Council. The total outlay of the Scheme is Rs. 113.77 crore with Grant-in-Aid of Rs. 100 crore (approx.).

The scheme provides for 75 % of training fee as assistance for training courses identified by Electronics Sector Skills Council, Telecom Sector Skills Council and NIELIT. The scheme also provides for 100% fee reimbursement to 40% of the seats which would be reserved for the candidates belonging to SC/ST/Economically weaker sections. Further, Registration-cum-Certification fee per candidate (for the first attempt only) would also be reimbursed to assessing/certifying agencies.

Based on the proposals received, an Empowered Committee selected the states of Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana; Target divided equally i.e. 7,500 for each state), Jammu & Kashmir (Target: 15,000 in all 5 levels), Karnataka (Target :15,000 in all 5 levels), Kerala (Target: 11,250 – for Level 3, 4, 5 courses only), Punjab (Target: 15,000 in all 5 levels), Uttarakhand (Target: 3750 – for Level 1, 2 courses only) and Uttar Pradesh (Target : 15,000 in all 5 levels)

An Expert Committee constituted by the Government to recommend the basket of courses which could be covered under the said scheme had recommended 47 courses so far for rollout of the scheme. The state of Karnataka has launched one course already and the other selected states and the three key implementing agencies viz. NIELIT, ESSC and TSSC are in the process of identifying state level training agencies in the respective states for launching these courses very shortly.

Aim of this scheme:

The Scheme aims at enhancing the skilling capacities in ESDM sector through public and private sector for students/unemployed youth belonging to other disciplines by:

1) Utilizing the existing human resource who are undergoing studies in schools (IX standard onwards)/ITIs/Polytechnics/UG Colleges (non-engineering) and the school drop outs/unemployed youth by providing them with additional skills that are recognized by industry for employment in ESDM sector.
2) Encouraging new investments in training in ESDM sector by industry.
3) Facilitating evolving of process/norms for (i) certification of various courses; (ii) providing opportunities for moving up the value chain; and (iii) recognition of institutions for conducting such courses, as per requirement of Industry in the ESDM sector.