The programme was launched in 2017 on the pilot basis by Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in association with National Skill Development Agency.
The initiative aims at skill development of India’s youth in the environment and forest sector resulting in gainful employment or self-employment.
Target: The number of people to be covered under this programme will be 2.25 lakh during 2019-20 and about 5 lakh people by the year 2021. More than 30 programmes have been identified, which will be conducted in 84 institutions across the country.
Services Offered: The skilling programmes cover diverse fields such as pollution monitoring (air/water/soil), Sewage Treatment Plant, Effluent Treatment Plants and Common Effluent Treating Plants (STP/ETP/CETP) operation, waste management, forest management, water budgeting, auditing, conservation of river dolphins, wildlife management, Para-taxonomy, including Peoples’ Biodiversity Register (PBRs), mangroves conservation, bamboo management and livelihood generation. The duration of the courses ranges from 80 hours to 560 hours approx.
Significance: The programme helps to develop green skilled workers having technical knowledge and commitment to sustainable development. It will also help in the attainment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), National Biodiversity Targets (NBTs), as well as Waste Management Rules (2016).
Concern: Just like any other skill development programme, the post-training placement is an area of concern. Mere training youth and not ensuring gainful employment would defeat the purpose of the initiative, hence proper post-training placement or financial assistance to setup self-employment unit must be ensured.
